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-62-

the holiday home
Saturday, 12th October, 1963, was a great day in the history of the Southwark
Old People's Welfare Committee for it marked another achievement, the opening
of the Joseph Collier Holiday Home at Bognor Regis. For several years the Fund
Raising Committee had been working hard to raise the necessary money; they began
with the competition for the Ford Classic car given by Mr. David Rowse, through
which a considerable sum was raised. When an eminently suitable building came
into the market, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Joseph Collier (who opened his
first draper's shop at the Elephant and Castle), the purchase was made possible
by his cheque for £15,000.
On the day of the opening about 60 guests were invited, representing the various
committees and friends of St. Alban's Hall and also representatives of the old people.
Mrs. Collier, accompanied by her daughter and in the presence of the Mayor of
Southwark (Councillor Mrs. Clunn, j.P.) and the Mayor and Mayoress of Bognor
Regis, performed the opening ceremony. There followed an introduction by the
Chairman of the Southwark Old People's Welfare Committee, Councillor A. E. Knight,
with speeches by Mrs. Collier, the Mayor of Southwark, Alderman A. j. Gates, j.P.,
Mr. Nadler and Mr. Peter Dale. After a blessing on the Home refreshments were
served.
The Home, formerly a hotel, is very close to the sea front and gardens and
therefore in a most suitable position for the old people. It is tastefully furnished
and decorated, with many modern amenities. The first party from Southwark spent
a happy time there at Christmas and since then groups of old people have been
booking for one or two weeks so that all accommodation is now reserved from
May until the end of the summer.
workshops
The Workshops centre is now in its Third Year and continues to give our
Senior Citizens work in which they have pleasure in participating.
Since our last report the pay scale has been increased from 1/- to l/3d. per
hour, although whether this will be maintained depends very much on the future
work supply. We shall be pleased to receive enquiries for further work.
As regards the workshop personnel individually and collectively the therapeutic
and psychological effect of no longer feeling age as a burden, has given them a
purpose, and through the amenities and social life of the Borough they can now
be integrated into something where they are both useful and wanted. In so doing
they solve the problem of their solitude by having the chance of meeting people of
their own age. capabilities and interest. From personal contact and enquiry it
would appear that during the weekend periods away from the Workshop they suffer
the same feelings of loneliness as their fellow members in that they neither see nor
hear from anyone with whom they are normally in daily contract, but is it felt that
some compensation for this state of affairs is offered when they return to the Workshop
with its atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.