View report page

76
The above figures show an increase of 3,535 meals supplied
compared with the previous year. Demand on Mondays is still light
and the Women's Voluntary Services Van has not been used on this
day.
On the 2nd May, 1960, the price of a meal to old people was
increased from 10d. to 1/- with a corresponding increase in the
grant received from the London County Council. This increase was
imposed after negotiations on our behalf, between the Medical
Officer of Health and the caterer, Mrs. MacDonald, had resulted
in an improvement in the quality of the meal served.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the
drivers and helpers who deliver these meals each day to homebound
and invalid elderly persons and cannot praise too highly the value
of this service.
Holidays for Elderly Persons.—Since the last Annual Meeting,
we have again been able to send two parties of elderly persons to
Margate for a fortnight's holiday. The September, 1959, party
numbered 125 and the May, 1960, party 120. On each occasion,
exceptionally fine weather was experienced and, from the many
letters of appreciation received, everyone benefited from the holiday.
Members of the Committee travelled with the coaches as escorts,
and in view of the favourable reports received, we have given instructions
for reservations to be made for a further party of 136 in
September next.
Quite apart from the large holiday parties sent to Margate,
there are many old people who are not physically capable of being
included in such parties and, in order that these persons should
not be deprived of the benefits of a holiday by the sea, arrangments
were made for a party to be sent to Lancing in July of last
year and two parties during June, 1960. These persons are accommodated
at a boarding house at Lancing where all the rooms are on
the ground floor level and the gardens overlook the sea. No nursing
attention is given, but there are many additional amenities to those
found at an ordinary boarding house and the staff go out of their
way to ensure that these invalid persons enjoy their holiday to the
full.
Transport has been a problem in the past and our sincere
thanks are due to the Borough Council for loaning us their Minibus
to take our parties to Lancing. With the purchase of the new
Minibus, however, we are now able to provide our own transport
in this connection and we would like to place on record our appreciation
to the drivers and escorts for voluntarily carrying on this
very important service.