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METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF FULHAM
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 oircumstances
in the Borough tor the year 1964 Included is the report of the Public Analyst, T. MoLachlan, Esq.,
D.C.M., A.C.G.F.C., F.R.I.C.
There has been no serious outbreak of infectious disease and the health of the inhabitants
of the Borough has again been satisfactory. Notifications of infectious disease decreased by 1104
compared with 1963, the reduction being due to a decrease in the cases of measles.
Staff changes include the retirement of Dr. C.A. Meade, Deputy Medical Officer of Health,
who had served the' Council and the in habitants conscientiously and loyally for more than ten
years. Dr. Meade combined a wide experience of clinical medicine gained in many parts of the
world with an enthusiasm for and interest in preventive medicine a rare combination these days -
and her retirement was a'serious loss to the department.. Dr. D.M.O. Lowry was seconded part
time by the London County Council to succeed Dr. Meade. Dr. Lowry also, has had overseas experience
in Public Health.
Three Public Health lnspectors left for other posts, in two cases to authorities near their
homes. They were Messrs. M. Cander, D. Corfield and J. Looman. The latter two Inspectors had
both trained in the department.
The Clean-Air Officer, Mr. B. Jago, who had been with the Department from the start of the
Clean-Air programme in 1957, left to join the staff of Lambeth Borough Council. Mr. Jago had
played an important part in the smooth running of the Council's clean air scheme being concerned
with advising and assisting the public and also the builders concerned with the technical
aspects of the Scheme. Two other officers, Mr. H. Edwards and Mrs. B. Vane, part-time Clean Air
Enquiry Officers, completed their survey of the ninth and last Smoke Control Area and left the
Council's service with the satisfaction of seeing their task completed.
It is with regret that I have to report the death in April, after an operation, of Mr. G.H. Leaver,
a Rodent Operative, who had served the Council I loyally for 16 years. He was succeeded by Mr. R.
Parker, who commenced duty in August.
This will be the last Annual Report to be repared by a Medical Officer of Health of the
Metropolitan Borough of Fulham. On April Ist, 1965, the Metropolitan Boroughs of Fulham and
Hammersmith combine to form the London Borough of Hammersmith, the Health Department of
which will have virtually all the responsibilities of a County Borough.
In view of this important event I have included a brief historical review of the activities
of the department over the past sixty years whilst Fulham has been a Metropolitan Borough. The
forthcoming amalgamation inevitably placed additional work on the senior staff in preparing plans
for the merging of the two health departments and the taking over of staff and services at present
provided by the London County Council.
In April, 1964, the Health Department vacated its accommodation in the Town Hall and moved
into a large suite of offices nearby at 2/6, Fulham Broadway which had been acquired by the
Council mainly on the advice that they would provide adequate accommodation for the future Health,
Welfare and Departments of the Hammersmith London Borough.