View report page

- 61 -
On Wednesday evenings there has been a variety of entertainment,
including whist drives, quizzes and occasionally displays of dancing
by children. These latter have proved most enjoyable and we are very
grateful to the organisers and to the children for their kind thought
in giving the old people pleasure. There was, too, a memorable occasion
when Messrs. Singers staged a fashion parade, to the great delight
of the ladies, and no doubt of the gentlemen too.
To all who have provided entertainment in any form, we express
our deep appreciation.
Visitors
This year has set a milestone in the history of Southwark Old
People's Welfare Committee through the publicity we have received ;
the eyes of the outside world have been attracted to the achievements
of the Committee and we have had many visitors to see what we are
doing and how we are doing it. Fulham Borough Council sent a group
headed by the Mayor ; representatives from the government of Victoria,
Australia, themselves faced with the problem of ageing people ;
representatives from the Public Health Department of Jersey; a group
of Cambridge students attached to the Pembroke Mission in Walworth ;
students from Nigeria ; a group from the London School of Economics
and a group studying Social Science - these are just some of the
visitors who have come to St. Alban's Hall during the past year, and
in addition we have been happy to welcome the Bishop of Southwark.
Seaside Holidays
On Saturday, May 14th, 142 old people went by coach to Bognor
for two weeks. The weather was fairly good, by last year's standards,
and the hoteliers with their usual co-operation helped to make the
holiday a great success. As an expression of thanks for all their
kindness they were invited to St. Alban's Hall on November 10th. There
were twenty-three guests and they were entertained to high tea by the
staff, helpers and members of the Committee. The Chairman of the
Executive Committee presented them with the coat-of-arms of Southwark,
as a gesture of gratitude, and we understand that our gift now hangs
in the Council Offices at Bognor.
On September 11th a party of old people left for a seven days'
coach tour with Morecambe as a centre. This was a new venture in
that the Committee organised the holiday but did not subsidise it.
It was a great success and we hope to repeat the venture this year.
Jumble Sales
Several jumble sales have been organised during the year by
energetic members of St. Alban's Hall Association. They are always
well patronised and the proceeds help to swell our funds. We are always
grateful for gifts of clothes, men's in particular, which are
saleable or which may be given to old people in need.