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To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough
of Lewisham
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This report on the health and environmental circumstances of
Lewisham for 1963 was prepared before the sad death of Dr. Smithard
in March of this year and it is therefore my melancholy duty to provide a
brief introductory statement.
The work of the Health Department during the year which is under
review and recorded in these pages, reflects the enthusiasms and the
interests of the late Medical Officer of Health. The statistics and the
tabulations together with the necessary explanatory statements bear the
stamp of his lucid and exact mind.
Dr. Smithard's interests lay in the welfare of people old and young
alike and in the way they can react to their environment and respond to
fellowship one with another. If he applied himself particularly to the
problems of the aged it was because it was in that field that he could
make, in his official capacity, the most direct impact; but his annual
analyses of the factors which impinge directly or indirectly on the
health of the community were always fresh and stimulating and were of
great local social value.
This report should be read not only for the intrinsic merit of a
carefully documented account of the important work of the Health
Department, but also because it was the last full year that Dr. Smithard
was in charge of the Department.
I am honoured to be associated with this report which is a credit
to his memory.
J. K. Brown,
Acting Medical Officer of Health
The Public Health Committee during the year was constituted as
follows:
Councillor A. A. Hawkins (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs. D. I. Cox (Vice-Chairman)
Councillor F. P. Page (The Mayor)
Alderman C. S. E. Fox
Councillors Mrs. H. D. Burch, Mrs. C. M. Costello, J. E. Dale, J.
Donovan, Mrs. D. E. Eagles, Mrs. D. K. Epps, M.B.E., P. E. J. Forward,
R. J. Groves, Mrs. G. M. M. Land, Mrs. D. E. New, Miss B. G.
Oldham, A. J. Pinnegar and E. F. Inch.