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moment and our domiciliary service can now only be a three monthly one.
We are anxious to know bow the new free service, just announced by the
Government, will affect our present arrangements - and expansion of the
service is being held up until it has been decided how this new service
will be operated. We would like to express our thanks to the Southwark
Division of the British Red Cross Society for arranging the transport
for the clinic.
Outings
Outings from the Gate House have been numerous during the year.
Coach trips to Brighton, Bexhill, Southend, Chichester, Wittering,
Albourne, Palladium, and Streatham Hill Theatre have been some of the
high lights, and many parties and entertainments have been held at the
Gate House.
Choir Festival
The Festival for old people's choirs for South London was held in
Crossways Mission this year and for the first time Southwark took part.
Fifteen members from the Gate House Club entered and sang "The Sailor
from Sea" which was the set song and "Crimraond" which was their own
choice. Miss P.P. Buxton a member of the Chelsea Branch of the British
Red Cross Society trained and conducted them and Mrs. Gates accompanied
them on the piano.
They have entered again this year and are at the moment busy
practising. This year the Festival is being organised by the Old People's
Welfare Committee.
Seaside Holidays
On Saturday, 2nd May, 118 old people went to Bognor for a two
weeks' stay by the sea. The party included two old people from Courbevoie,
a suburb of Paris, with which the Borough of Southwark twinned several
years ago. They were received with open arms by the Southwark Old
People and enjoyed their stay very much indeed. This year we were able
to take three very severe arthritics and they were accommodated in a
convalescent home belonging to the Bermondsey Medical Mission. They
were taken down in our own car and taken out for drives during the
fortnight. They were also taken to join the rest of the party for
special parties and functions arranged for their entertainment.
We feel very strongly that these old people who are so badly
crippled with arthritis need the holiday as much, if not more, than
many of the more able-bodied, but it is very difficult fitting them
into the hotels because there is very little ground floor accommodation.
We have booked several places in the convalescent home again this year.
We are indebted to the Mayor of Southwark for his grant of £300
which enabled the committee to make the holiday available to so many
for so low a cost.