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Much of my correspondence is now concerned with matters relating to the
care of persons of retirement age. Unfortunately there are still many whose condition
is such that little can be done for them other than to remove them to an
institution. The object of S P A C A is to make such cases as few as possible,
and primarily it sets out to keep the old healthy, comfortable and young in outlook.
I know its success has been the pride of the Council and, I would assure
you, of its officers.
I would call attention to the purchase of S P A.C A 's first meals van,
photographs of which are in this report. It has proved entirely successful and
is providing 60 old persons who are house-bound with a hot meal five days a week.
There is a plaque on the side of the van which bears the inscription - "This van
was presented to the St. Pancras Association for the Care of the Aged through
the Lord Mayor's Air Raid Distress Fund, 1939-1940". The meals are prepared by
and purchased from the Aerated Bread Company in Camden Road and I feel sure that
S.P. A. C. A. would wish me to express their thanks to the Directors for their cooperation
and their kindly help. Each Saturday morning we are presented with a
menu and from this we choose the meals for the week. The following is a typical
menu:-
Monday Stewed Beef or Roast Leg of Lamb, Mint Sauce
New Potatoes
Peas
Steamed Jam Roll
Tuesday Steak and Mushroom Pie or Boiled Silverside of Beef
New Potatoes
Cabbage
Apple Tart and Custard
Wednesday Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding or Fried Pork Chop
New Potatoes
Runner Beans
Swiss Apple Tart and Custard
Thursday Roast Leg of Lamb, Mint Sauce or Minced Beef and Tomato
Roast Potatoes
Cabbage
Plum Tart and custard
Friday Fried Fillet of Fish
Chipped Potatoes
Peas
Rice Pudding and Prunes
By the end of the year many thousands of meals had been provided, with
literally not one single complaint - with the exception of one old lady who
stated that the meal was more than she could eat! Each individual knows approximately
the time at which his or her meal will be delivered and very often our
staff are met at the doorstep with grateful expectation, or in many cases the
recipient provides our staff with a key so that entrance is not delayed. I think
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