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5
Bill in November, 1962. In this Bill it is proposed that the Boroughs
of Hampstead, Holborn and St- Pancras should be united to form one
of the new London Boroughs which would come into existence on 1st
April, 1965,
It seems likely that the number of Annual Reports which will
be made on the lines of this one is strictly limited and I have therefore,
taken the opportunity of including some of the domestic history of the
Public Health Department of Hampstead.
In doing this , I am much indebted to Mr. F. S. Hill, who retired
from the Council's service in 1940 and who is now living in Barnet.
Mr. Hill was appointed to the Public Health Department in 1896, four
years before the creation of the Borough of Hampstead, and he became
the Chief Clerk and Assistant Administrative Officer. After 44 years
service and 23 years of retirement his memory is extraordinary.
He says in his letter: -
"I recall the Chairman of the Vestry, the Vicar of the
Parish Church, a fine old gentleman, the Rev. S. B. Burnaby
and his deputy, Major General Young, R. E. , who was a
good friend to the officers. In 1896 when I transferred to
the 'Sanitary Department' life was very slow and easy. We
had no telephones and hardly any callers and about a dozen
letters a day. We, in our Department, had the first
typewriter in the Town Hall - an old Yost with a circular
pad (no ribbon) - and sometimes to get away early we would
put the clock on half-an-hour, If we had a case of infectious
disease needing admission to hospital, one of us walked
round to the Fever Hospital Ambulance and asked for it.
Those were the days! "
Some of the historical information has been obtained from the
reports of former Medical Officers of Health but much is derived from
other notes and records, many of which are in Mr, Hill's handwriting.
I am very grateful to the Members of the Council and particularly
to the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee
for their continued encouragement and support.
I would also like to express my thanks to the Town Clerk and