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4
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF FULHAM
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
TOWN HALL, FULHAM S.W. 6.
August, 1962
To: The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Fulham
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you the annual report on the health and sanitary
circumstances in the Borough for the year 1961 The report of the Public Analyst,
T. McLachlan, Esq., D.C.M. A.C.G.F.C., F.R.I.C. is included
During the year under review there was no serious outbreak of infectious disease and
the health of the inhabitants of the Borough has been satisfactory At the end of the
year a fatal case of smallpox occurred in London and a Fulham resident was a very close
contact. He and his family were vaccinated and kept under surveillance Fortunately
he did not develop the disease
A number of staff changes has again occurred. It is with regret that I have to
report the deaths of Mr. R.J. Osmond, Disinfecting Superintendent, and Mr. W.E. Davies,
an Enquiry Officer for Smoke Control Area Surveys, Mr. Osmond had been on the staff of
the Health Department for nine years. He was an efficient officer who was held in high
esteem by all his colleagues in the department and was greatly respected by the public
with whom he came in contact. His death during his active career was a great loss to
the Council. He was succeeded by Mr J W Smith, who was promoted from Foreman.
Mr. Davies had been a loyal and conscientious member of the staff on two occasions for a
total of ten years. His kind and friendly manner was a valuable asset in his contacts
with members of the public and made him a respected member of the staff Mr. Davies was
succeeded by Mrs. B Vane
Three District Public Health Inspectors resigned during the year on obtaining
appointments with other Local Authorities outside London Mr A.G. Bell, who had five
and a half years service, went to Farnborough Urban District Council; Mr. C. Clayden,
after five years service, went to Brighton County Borough Council: and Mr. H. Batson,
after two and a half years service; went to Mansfield Borough Council All three
Inspectors received their training as students at Fulham The only appointment made
during the year was that of Mr. D. J. Wells, another student, who qualified in November.
Advertisements for Public Health Inspectors again proved fruitless Students are
virtually the only source of recruitment and during the year two more students were
appointed - Mr. R.W. Southerby, who commenced in August and Mr. D.H. Franklin in
September At the end of the year there were four students in the Department, three of
whom will sit their qualifying examination in 1962
Mr. M. Gadsby. Junior Clerk, resigned in October to join the staff of B.O.A.C. and
was replaced by Mrs. F. Andrews
Clean Air
During the year a total of 5,466 premises were dealt with under the No. 4 Smoke
Control Area Order It is now evident that this is about the maximum number of premises
which can be dealt with in any year with the available resources of staff and builders
who have specialised in this work. As in previous years, a comprehensive Clean Air
Exhibition was held in the locality covered by the Order This time we were fortunate
in having available the spacious accommodation of Cobbs Hall, which enabled a much larger
trade display to be housed and also allowed the Health Department to show exhibits of its
activities in the Clean Air field, together with many examples of the damaging effects of
atmospheric pollution on health and materials The Exhibition aroused great interest
and was attended by more than 3,000 visitors.