Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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Monday to Friday, at West Greenwich House, S.E.10., Charlton
House, S.E.7., Victorians Club, S.E.9., and at Abery Street, S.E.18.
The current year saw the establishment of a further two such
clubs at Southwood Road, S.E.9., and at "Tegel" one of our newer
old people's homes at Lee., S.E.12. Both operate in conjunction
with a Lunch Club held on the same premises.
Old People's Clubs
In order to foster the recreational activities of Old People's Clubs
the Welfare Committee makes an annual grant of £10 to each club
which provides a satisfactory service for its members. During the
year, grants were made to 65 established clubs.
Almost all of the clubs meet regularly once a week; they arrange
their own programmes, including outings, Christmas Festivities, etc.
Holiday Hotel
To meet an ever increasing demand by elderly residents for
holidays, the Council operates its own hotel for the exclusive use
of Greenwich residents at Westgate-on-Sea.
The present hotel, which is managed by a Resident Superintendent
and Assistant with appropriate staff, is an annexation of the
previous Greenwich and Sea Grange Hotels and it can cater for
almost 1,800 guests annually.
Existing accommodation at the combined hotels includes a
kitchen serving the whole establishment, several lounges with sea
views, a bar lounge and three dining rooms all on the ground floor.
Inclement weather is countered by enclosed balconies and there are
ample facilities for indoor entertainment and pastimes, including
television and radio.
It is the Council's intention to provide a cheerful holiday and
recreational facilities for guests and, although the holiday-makers
are generally expected to be active, provision is made for frail and
handicapped old persons to be accommodated on the ground floor.
These excellent holidays provided by the Council for retirement
pensioners resident in the Borough, i.e. men aged 65 years and over
and women of 60 years or more and not in full-time employment,
are comparable with the best. Holidays commence on Friday and
bookings are for a fortnight. Parties are conveyed by escorted
coaches from the various "picking-up" points in the Borough to and
from Westgate. Less active guests are further transported by minibus
to and from their own homes and the "picking-up" points.
Every fortnight, during the period June to October, eight of our
elderly citizens, who for medical reasons require ground floor