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and the Medical Officer of Health of the London County Council was told of the Association's anxiety
about the number of patients waiting for treatment. It was learnt that a complete review of the
chiropody services would be undertaken shortly. With the home treatments the interval between
visits is fixed as far as possible according to the individual needs of the patients, and works out an
average of 2¼ months.
Holidays.—Thanks to donations and a higher grant from the Borough Council, the Association
was glad to provide the benefit of holidays for a larger number of old people, including some who
had been away the previous year. Under the usual " all-in " scheme 124 people enjoyed a week at
Brighton and in spite of a rise in charges they were still asked to contribute only £1. 17s. 6d. towards
a week's board, lodging, transport and entertainments. The remainder of the total expense of
£4. 18s. 6d. a head weekly was met by the Association. The smooth running of this service owes a
great deal to Miss Sharp who accompanied each party to see them settled in, and to the kindliness
of the landladies who made the old people so comfortable.
Arrangements were also made for 21 people who needed a different type of holiday. Four of
these had a fortnight in the care of the Church Army at the short stay Sunset Home at Woking,
one who went to a B.R.C.S. Home had transport paid for by the Association, six went to Cliftonville
landladies known to us, each for a fortnight. In other cases the Association contributed to holidays
spent with friends or relatives and in two cases gave financial help through hospital authorities.
In about a dozen other cases arrangements for holidays broke down for various reasons, an indication
of the difficulty of planning for infirm people.
The Committee allocated £10 to the Barrow Hill Club toward the cost of their holiday scheme and
£34 to the Fourth Feathers Club for similar purposes. Members of other Clubs applied to the office
for holidays, though the St. John's Wood Club very helpfully collected their members' contributions.
Social Visiting.—Four new individual members were welcomed, also a new representative from
St. Mark's Church, Marylebone Road, and a representative for the first time from St. James' Church,
Spanish Place. Seven local churches now co-operate in the Committee, which generally meets
monthly, with Miss Sharp and Mrs. Cowan. Every endeavour is made to fill gaps and solve the
problems which are reported. Welcome offers of help were received from a group of students residing
at Nutford House and from the Trefoil Guild of the Girl Guides' Association.
Clubs.—Regular reports to the Executive showed a successful year for all clubs. Each club has
parties and presents at Christmas time, outings in the summer and best of all a regular weekly
gathering, the experienced club leaders ensuring a friendly atmosphere and many different interests.
Information important for old people, such as news of the National Fire Prevention Week, was
spread among members and some clubs gave special attention to road safety questions. There is no
need for old people to feel lonely or forgotten if they belong to a Darby and Joan Club. If they
fall ill at home or are sent to hospital there is soon a club visitor on the spot.
Relief.—Students connected with Hinde Street Methodist Church have again done admirable
jobs of decoration. More than a dozen homes were given attention in varying degree. The need
for this particular service is growing although unfortunately the costs of materials and labour
continue to increase. Perhaps only someone who has been confined to the house with nothing to
look at but dirty ceilings and dingy walls can really appreciate what it means to have such a
scene transformed and brightened. The visits of cheerful young people are often part of the
enjoyment. The National Assistance Board refunded to the Association the cost of materials
in about half the cases dealt with.
The accounts show that more was spent on relief in the past year. As usual most items were small,
but they represented urgent needs which could not be met from official sources. For example radio
licences, buckets, help with a telephone bill, electricity bills, a coat altered, another cleaned, a lamp
repaired, taxis from Christmas party, keys, ferrules for sticks, transport, electric work, linoleum and
linoleum laying. Some work was again undertaken to lower meters as a matter of safety, and the
Association is grateful for the co-operation of the North Thames Gas Board and the London
Electricity Board.
Coal was provided in a few emergencies, and Miss Sharp was helped in this respect by several gifts.
The Association is grateful also to numerous friends who gave useful items of clothing and bedding
tor distribution where they were most needed.
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 the library staff, mainly
to cases recommended by the Home Help Service. Twenty-two old people are now receiving books
at home and 2,904 were delivered to them during 1961.