View report page

Although the Borough is fortunate in that it has a number of
voluntarily operated clubs which are an invaluable source of
relaxation for old people it was obvious that, mainly because of the
shortage of voluntary assistance, alternative methods would have
to be adopted if a meals club were to be operated successfully and
the Council therefore considered the possibility of opening a
Municipal Club under the provisions of Section 4 of the Physical
Training and Recreation Act 1937. Whilst the matter was under
discussion the Hospital Management Committee announced that
certain hospital services were being transferred from the Public
Health Centre in Grange Road to St. Olave's Hospital and that,
consequently, half the first floor of the building, which had hitherto
been used for physio-therapeutic treatment, would become vacant.
The Council have always regarded the Public Health Centre with
pride as, before the war, it was considered to be one of the finest
centres of its kind in Europe, and it was felt that there was no better
purpose for which this vacant accommodation could be used than
to provide additional comfort for elderly people in the Borough.
The fact that it had been used for physio-therapy meant that the
heating installation was such that a temperature higher than that
which is considered adequate for the average building could be
maintained. The rooms were decorated in varying pastel shades,
suitable furniture and kitchen utensils and equipment were purchased
and, in January 1958, a Club Leader was appointed. These preparations
were completed in late April and the club began to operate
on 1st May after those qualified for membership had been made
aware of the facilities being offered. It was emphasised that these
facilities were additional to those being provided by voluntarily
conducted old people's clubs and that membership of the Municipal
Club was in no way to be considered prejudicial to membership of
any of the former.
The club was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor,
Councillor T. Hendy,J.P.,on 15th May,in the presence of Council
members, welfare workers and club members. This provided a
favourable opportunity for the reactions of the old people to be
obtained.
Perhaps not surprisingly, some of the subsequent reactions of
members to the facilities provided at the club were not anticipated.
For instance, one large room was divided into fairly spacious
cubicles and it was thought that these would be suitable for uninterrupted
games of dominoes or cards, or even group gossip, but
it soon became apparent that members preferred the community
atmosphere of the main club room. This was also found to be true
in the workrooms where it was evident that employees preferred to
work as one unit rather than in small groups. In view of this, the
Public Health Committee gave authority for the cubicles to be
dismantled and it is proposed to use the accommodation as an
additional dining room as well as for social activities during the
afternoon when the club is often full to capacity. As a result, it is