London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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West Ham 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]

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(11) Provision of Meals.
West Ham being largely a necessitous area, the provision
of meals to necessitous school children is an important duty on
the part of the Local Education Authority.
The scheme has now been in operation several years, and is
continued throughout the school holidays. At present there are
nine Dining Centres in operation, under the superintendence of
Miss Hale. The Centres are visited from time to time by the
School Medical Officer, and the dietary is submitted for his
approval. The Centres are clean and well managed, and the food
is of excellent quality.

The following figures summarise the extent of the undertaking during the year:—

BreakfastsDinners
Number of Meals supplied at Silver-town National Kitchen9203.14574
Number of Meals supplied at School Dining Centres279450477628

Average number of children attending per month: 7085.
These figures constitute a large increase on those of the
previous year.
(12) School Baths.
School Baths are provided at two Elementary Schools, viz.,
Gainsborough Road and Rosetta Road. Spray Baths are provided
at the Special School at Knox Road. A School Bath is
provided at the Residential Open Air School at Fyfield.
Selected children, with the consent of their parents, are conducted
in rota to the Corporation Baths at Balaam Street, Jupp
Road, Fenn Street and Silvertown. This takes place in school
hours.
Facilities are also afforded to school children for instruction
in swimming at the Beckton Road Open Air Bath. Men and
women professors are engaged for instruction and supervision.

The number of school children who attended the Corporation Washing Baths during ]927 is given in the following Table:—

BovsGirls
Balaam Street Baths49795587
Jupp Road Baths54442808
Silvertown Baths15361046
Fenn Street Baths47942640
1675312081
Total 28834.

The above figures do not include the children who have
attended the Swimming Baths during the above period.
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