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62
Unfortunately the W.V.S., who continue to provide transport and helpers
to cover the north of the Borough, are not yet in a position to deliver
meals on Mondays, but they are hoping to do so in the near future. We
are very grateful to Mrs. Meekins and her helpers for their invaluable
assistance in this very vital branch of our work.
The luncheon club at the Women's University Settlement continues
to be well patronised, and on 7th March a new luncheon club was opened
at Quinn's Square and from a small beginning the numbers are increasing
steadily.
71,589 meals were cooked and served in the restaurant or sent
out to the luncheon clubs and housebound during the year. This is an
increase of 11,000 over the previous year.
We should like to thank Mr. Bloomfield and his drivers for their
co-operation and sympathetic help in the efficient working of this
service, and thanks are also due to Mr. Durrant who for so long undertook
the transport of Meals-on-Wheels.
Transport
We have many requests for transport and often find it difficult,
through lack of voluntary drivers, to fit in all the journeys we should
like to undertake. It means much to an old person who is herself unfit
to battle with public transport to be able to visit a sick husband in
a distant hospital, if only at rare intervals; or for a housebound
invalid to be driven in comfort to the seaside to holiday or convalescent
home. This is a service which is in a way complementary to the
benefits offered by the State and contributes so much to the contentment
of those who cannot travel in the normal way.
We should like to thank Mr. Beckingsale and Mr. Morton, both
postmen, also John Atherton of Cambridge House, who give up so much of
their spare time to act as voluntary drivers in this work. We should
welcome more offers from drivers who are free during the day to enable
us to fulfil all the requests we receive.
Chiropody
Chiropody is a very important service for many of the old people.
The clinic is still supervised by Miss Addiscott who, in her kindly
and able manner, shows a personal interest in all those who attend.
For those who are brought in by car, foot clinic day provides a happy
change of atmosphere and a chat with old friends, besides an improvement
in walking which is so encouraging to the homebound.