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No work undertaken is of a difficult nature or considered to be beyond the
capabilities of the member to whom it is allocated. Typical work, for instance
includes folding circulars, machine stitching, greyhound and football cards, canon
filling and packing and assembly of simple boxes, etc: in fact anything where finger
manipulation can be employed after adequate instruction. Work is for a period of
two hours in the morning, with a coffee break, and two hours in the afternoon,
with a tea break. In addition the members have full liberty; there is no compulsion
about anything, and there is a waiting list for employment should any leave or
drop out. A tinfoil collection is also operated and up to date has realised the amount
of £6.
The Annual Workshop Conference was held at Regent Street. Polytechnic
Annexe on 1st April, 1964. the speakers being Dame Sybil Thorndike and
Dr. C. O. S. Blyth-Brooks. There were the usual stands of workshop exhibits which
proved to be of interest to all. At the subsequent discussions many subjects were
brought up by various organisers on which a report will be issued in due course
by the Fellowship.
DICKENS FAIR
The Dickens Fair of 1963 took place on Saturday, 30th November at St. Alban's
Hall. That morning publicity was given by a cavalcade of Veteran Cars through
the borough and a much larger number of people visited the Fair than in the previous
year. At 11.30 a.m. it was declared open by Miss Marie Burke to whom we are
most grateful for having stepped into the breach at very short notice. With her on
the platform were the Mayor, Councillor Mrs. Qunn, J.P., and the Mayoress, also
our M.P. Mr. Ray Gunter and Mrs. Gunter. Councillor A. E. Knight and Mrs. James.
Chairman of the Dickens Fair Committee. After a happy speech by Miss Burke
selling became brisk at the stalls set up round the hall— each represented a Dickens
character or book and was loaded with articles given by local traders and friends
of St. Alban's Hall. The gifts included groceries, cakes, bottles, toys, doils, jeweilery
and articles of needlework. Upstairs a Fun Fair attracted the children, with games,
competitions, sideshows and a bran tub. Refreshments were available and the hotdog
stall proved as successful as in past years. This year we had in addition ice
cream and hot chestnuts for sale. Throughout the day raffle tickets could be bought
for the more valuable gifts received and in the late afternoon the lucky numbers
were announced, also the number of the prize-winning 6d. entry programme. The
Fair ended with an auction in which the most interesting and valuable item was a
leather handbag sent by Her Majesty the Queen Mother who had been approached
to open the Fair, She was unable to accept but had expressed her great interest in
the welfare of old people and sent this gift with her best wishes.
After deduction of expenses the sum of £414 0s. Id. was handed to the
Executive Committee for the Comforts Fund.
VISITING
This plays a most important part in the Welfare State as, thanks to the various
Domiciliary Services, many more old persons who otherwise would have been in
an Old People's Home are now able to stay in their own accommodation. This in
its turn presents a great problem as many of the Old Folk are very frail and infirm
and should be visited frequently to ascertain that all is well.
One reads daily in the newspapers of old people being found in a collapsed
condition, rushed off to hospital and suffering all the consequences of having been
left for many hours before receiving any help. Only those who have experienced
this can describe the terrible moments of anguish and despair they suffered, when
they felt that they had been deserted in their hour of need. Regular visiting could
help to minimise the incidence of this situation as the Visitor would observe any