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books" for the blind and, recently, opportunities for the borrowing
of gramophone records have been made available to residents over
the age of 18 years In particular, the Central Library is admirably
adapted to enable private study to be undertaken in proximity to
a comprehensive reference section
Social centres providing for all shades of cultural and educational
tastes have been established at Charlton House, Kidbrooke
House, the Town Hall and West Greenwich House under the
auspices of the Greenwich Community Council in conjunction
with the LCC and, in this connection, it can be stated that there
are upwards of 65 clubs and societies affiliated to this Community
Council
Besides Associations for rowing and barge sailing, the local
sports clubs include the famous Blackheath Football Club (the
oldest of all rugby football clubs) and the newer professional
Charlton Athletic Football Club
Fifteen "Old People's Clubs", each of which receives an
annual grant from the Council, cater for the elderly residents of
the Borough and in five instances accommodation for these clubs
is made available by the Council free of charge The lot of the
aged, especially the "home-bound" is further ameliorated by an
effective "Meals-on-Wheels" service In suitable cases, arrangements
are made for the elderly to be bathed either in their own
homes or at the Council's new Bathing Centre and a special
"incontinent laundry" service has been introduced for the cleansing
of soiled bed linen and clothing of the bedridden
Greenwich can boast of modern public baths On these premises
are to be found first and second class slipper and swimming
baths together with newly completed Turkish and Vapour Baths
as well as a public laundry In winter the baths hall is used for
recreational purposes such as badminton, table tennis and roller
skating, etc
The unique position held by Greenwich in Britain's history
has its counterpart in the nation's industrial story From earliest
years its residents have been closely linked with the sea and ships
and Britain's ascendancy in respect of them for over 1,000 years
This association, manifest since before the advent of the ancient
"wooden walls" until after the birth of the "ironclad" has, to a
very large extent, determined the pattern of industry in the
Borough