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Towards the end of 1960 the Finsbury Old People's Welfare Committee
decided to undertake experimentally on a small scale, the delivery of frozen
whole meals which only required to be heated in the impervious envelope in
which they are delivered, by placing it in boiling water in a saucepan for 15
minutes. The idea was that this service might be valuable for those not
within the purview of the "Invalid Meals of London*, but yet were unable to
attend a centre or to cater adequately for themselves. The cost to the elderly
was one shilling per meal.
Early in 1963 intimation was received from the National Catering
Organisation from whom frozen meals were purchased, that it was intended,
due to the insufficiency of the demand, to discontinue the supply of such
frozen meals as from the end of June 1963. Every effort was made through
the medium of various central organisations to ascertain the potential overall
demand for such frozen meals with a view to representation being made
to the firm to ensure continuation of supply. Unfortunately the overall demand
at the time was not such as to warrant the firm altering the decision which
they had already made to discontinue the provision of such frozen meals.
The Council therefore decided to provide a Domiciliary meals service
using fresh cooked meals from the Caterer who provides for the normal meal
service. (The caterer prepares such meals in the kitchens attached to the
Finsbury Town Hall). This new service commenced on the 1st July, 1963.
5,063 Domiciliary meals were served during 1964, as compared with
4,941 (3,453 frozen meals and 2,512 cooked meals) for the year 1963.
(c) Nutritional Supplements (F.O.P.W.C.)
The arrangements continued with Messrs Wander Ltd., Bovril Ltd.,
Glaxo Ltd., and Horlicks Ltd., whereby "Ovaltine*. "Hospital Extract
Bovril*, "Marmite", "Jaffa Juice", "Complan* and "Horlicks" are supplied
to the various organisations represented on the Committee for resale to the
aged attending their clubs, at a price considerably less than the normal
retail price. These Nutritional Supplements have proved very popular with
the aged and considerable quantities have been sold to them.
(d) Sheltered Employment: The Scheme inaugurated as an experiment in
1951, to provide sheltered employment for those of the elderly, who are
unable to continue in normal employment, and yet are able to undertake
suitable light work for 2 hours daily, has continued to play an important
role in the provisions made for this group of the community.
The Work Centre named "Brooke House" situated at 39/41 Gloucester
Way, E.C.I, made possible as a result of a number of generous benefactors
and opened by the late Lord Horder in November, 1954, has proved eminently
satisfactory in every way.
In I960, a small branch scheme for about 10 persons was opened in
the Community Centre on the Priory Green Estate, and during 1964 a further
branch for about 20 persons was opened at the Old People's Centre, Lever
Street, E.C.I.
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