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for invalids and sick persons. Meals were supplied to those suffering from diseases which
necessitated special diets which the recipients could not provide themselves nor obtain in
an ordinary restaurant. In the great majority of cases the recipients of the meals were
housebound and meals were delivered to them at their homes (in eighteen boroughs) by
a transport fleet of 20 vehicles specially fitted with heated food-conveyors. Invalids living
near and able to walk to the kitchens with dining-rooms attached (four out of the five)
were served with meals at the restaurants.
Towards the end of 1959 the Chairman of the voluntary body informed the Council
that he felt unable to continue to be responsible for the work. His Executive Committee
had authorised him to ask the Council to take over the service as soon as possible and,
pending the completion of the necessary formalities, to make interim arrangements for the
continuance of the service. The Council approved in principle the taking over of the
service and, to enable the service to be maintained, approved the provision of financial and
administrative assistance to Invalid Meals for London. The legal formalities were unexpectedly
protracted and it was not until December, 1961 that the service was transferred
to the Council.
In the meantime, at the request of the metropolitan borough councils, provision had
been included in the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1961, to enable the
borough councils to provide an invalid meals service or to make grants to voluntary bodies
providing such a service. At the end of the year discussions were taking place with the
Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee on the future running of the service.
Details of the service provided is shown by the following figures:
1957/8 1958/9 1959/60 1960/1 1961/2
Meals served 174,011 167,134 172,637 180,291 196,695
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