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Concerts and Outings, etc.—During the year, over 250 elderly
persons attended a successful evening's entertainment at the A.E.I.
Sports Stadium, Cemetery Lane, given by the firm's own concert
party. A further 257 elderly homebound enjoyed afternoon outings
to the Kent countryside and to local parks and open spaces
arranged for two afternoons each week during the months from
May to September. In addition, the department provided transport
for regular outings to Lewisham Clubs and Day Centres.
In hundreds of cases, restricted mobility renders elderly people
unsuitable for whole day outings. Selection for half day breaks is
therefore based upon up-to-date visiting data.
As a direct result of the delivery to the department of 2 new
'handicapped' coaches equipped with hydraulic tail-lifts, the number
of regular weekly and monthly outings to clubs and other social
activities was substantially increased. Furthermore, the ability of
the department to arrange special journeys for elderly people going
on holiday or to visit relations in hospital was greatly enhanced.
Television and Radio Sets—A number of television sets
donated to the Council were repaired and put on loan to needy old
people. Through the generosity of a private donor, other television
sets were made available, without charge, to some 45 elderly residents
of the Borough.
The department makes arrangements for the repair and loan
of its own sets and also acts as agent for a number of voluntary
organisations such as 'Wireless for the Bedridden Society'.
Library Service—The Council's Library Service to Old
People's Homes was further extended and collections of books were
changed regularly. Some 20 people in the Kidbrooke area are visited
every fortnight by volunteers who distribute and exchange books
chosen from the Kidbrooke Branch library. The Borough Librarian
reports that issues of books during 1965 to Hospitals, Old People's
Homes and housebound readers totalled over 10,000.
Civic Entertainment—Film Shows, arranged by the Recrational
Services Committee, were held fortnightly during the winter
season at each of the 4 Old People's Homes and a further 200 'live'
shows were given to old people's clubs to audiences amounting to
almost 15,500.
Holiday Hotel—To meet an ever increasing demand by elderly
residents for holidays, the former Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich
decided, in 1963, to operate its own hotel for the exclusive use
of Greenwich residents and to this end, after a prolonged search,
an hotel was purchased at Westgate-on-Sea. It was clearly the
Council's intention to provide a cheerful holiday and recreational
facilities for guests and, although the holiday-makers were generally