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9
Library Service to Housebound Readers.—The delivery of books to the housebound, instituted
by the Public Libraries Committee in 1957, has been carried out regularly by Library staff,
mainly to cases recommended by the Home Help Service. Twenty-four old people are now receiving
this service and over 2,500 books were delivered to them during 1960.
Radio.—Nine new applications were approved by the ‘Wireless for the Bedridden’ Society,
and at the end of the year there were 28 people enjoying sets lent by this Society, which generously
gave the licences in several cases, and provides an immense amount of pleasure for home-bound
people.
Fireguards.—Applications to the L.C.C. for the loan of fireguards were made in four new cases.
Entertainments.—The wonderful party for eight hundred elderly Marylebone residents given by
Mrs. Lew Grade at Christmastime in the Seymour Hall was once again a great event, eagerly
anticipated and enthusiastically remembered. Mrs. Grade's thoughtfulness about detail, her friendly
personality, the first-class cabaret and the gifts made it a memorable gathering and the Association
felt privileged to be able to assist with the distribution of invitations and the supply of helpers.
The majority of guests were club members, but at least two hundred and sixty, who belong to no
club, were included.
The Women's Institute at Wye, Kent, once again kindly invited a party of Marylebone people
for an August outing, and the visit was a most happy one, in spite of bad weather.
We were glad to distribute one hundred and ninety tickets for a play by the St. Marylebone
Literary Institute, which was much enjoyed ; others for commercial television shows also gave
much pleasure."
Diseased or Infirm Persons—Compulsory Removal.
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, as amended by the National Assistance
(Amendment) Act, 1951, empowers the Council to apply to the Courts for Orders for the removal
to a hospital or institution, for the purposes of securing the necessary care and attention, of persons
who—
(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease or, being aged, infirm or physically incapacitated,
are living in insanitary conditions, and,
(b) are unable to devote to themselves, and are not receiving from other persons, proper care
and attention.
It is seldom necessary to follow this procedure, except in distressing cases which sometimes occur
of old persons who, although no longer able to look after themselves and living in conditions which
make it impossible for them to be nursed at home, refuse to enter a home or hospital voluntarily.
Fortunately there were none of these during 1960.
Public Baths and Laundry.
The Seymour Hall, opened in April, 1937, covers an area of 37,000 square feet. The building is
electrically heated and contains two indoor swimming pools, private baths, public laundry, squash
racket court, changing and club rooms. Swimming, private bath, and laundry facilities are available
daily throughout the year.
The large swimming pool, which is converted from October to April inclusive for use as a public
hall, has a water area of 132 feet by 42 feet with depths from 3 feet to 12 feet, and the smaller pool
a water area of 100 feet by 30 feet with depths from 2 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 6 inches. The pools are
provided with independent purification plants which are cross-connected to purify water in either pool
if necessary. These plants have a capacity of 65,000 and 23,800 gallons per hour respectively. This
enables the contents of the pools, 228,000 and 83,600 gallons, to be circulated and purified within
3½ hours. Continuous filtration is applied so that all the pool water does not have to be changed.
Water from the pool is used to wash the filter beds and " make-up " water is taken from the mains
of the Metropolitan Water Board. Chemical treatment is by alumina and soda, and the water is
sterilized by chlorine gas with modern " breakpoint chlorination " equipment. Automatic recorders
provide a continuous check on residual chlorine and periodic re-agent tests are also taken. Samples
from both pools are regularly sent to the Council's Bacteriologist and the results have been satisfactory.
Both pools have spacious dressing rooms which are provided with foot-baths and showers. Diving
stages and spring-boards offer every facility for the advanced swimmer and diver, and refreshments
are obtainable in the upper balconies.