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In preparation for the long-needed full time office when the new Centre should be ready for use,
Mr. W. M. C. Gosby was appointed Deputy Secretary, and took up his duties on the 1st June.
Donations.—These were most gratefully received from the following: West London Synagogue
Charitable Fund £30; Mrs. Findlay for dog licences for elderly people £5; Women's Mirror Fuel
Fund £10; Mrs. Brighten £25; Mr. and Mrs. Hawkings £25; Miss Bryant £1 2s. 6d.; Councillor and
Mrs. Desmond Plummer £10; St. Marylebone Parish Church (Extra Parochial Giving) £20; Miss
E. V. Savage £1 Is. Od.; Abbey National Staff Association Darts Club £2; Hon. Mrs. North £5;
Miss G. Tassinari £2 10s. Od.; Artizans & General Properties Co. Ltd. £10 10s. Od.; Anon. £5; some
boys of St. Marylebone Grammar School £10 15s. Od.; S. J. Jones £1; Mrs. G. M. McNair £2; Mrs.
L. Fewster for Christmas parcels £10; St. John's Wood Darby and Joan Club for holidays £10;
Balance of Old People's Day at Lord's £25 17s. 11d.
During the last weeks of the year the Association had an unprecedented experience when £6,000
was donated through a firm of solicitors from an anonymous fund. This amount was placed on
deposit at the Bank.
Gifts.—Much appreciated Harvest gifts to old people were given by several schools and churches.
Gratitude is expressed also for Christmas parcels sent to the Association for distribution. They were
somewhat fewer than the previous year; the Association added £10 worth of groceries, and with other
help it was possible to send parcels where they were most needed.
The Grant-Aided Services.
'Meals on Wheels'.—1964 was the first full year with two vans working, and the number of
meals served showed a valuable increase in this most important welfare service. 15,538 hot midday
meals were taken into the homes of elderly infirm people (4,608 more than in 1963). B.R.C.S. helpers
continued to supplement the work of W.V.S. The vans were driven by Borough employees from the
Cleansing Department, where the vans were garaged and serviced.
Luncheon Club.—In spite of two removals, the Club carried on with the minimum of interruption.
The premises in Seymour Place, so long provided at a nominal rent by the Church Army, were
needed for other purposes before the new Centre was ready to receive the Luncheon Club. Owing
to the kindness of the London County Council, through Mr. P. Linton, Warden of Luxborough
Lodge, it was arranged for the two meals services to operate from Luxborough Lodge temporarily,
a period eventually stretched to six months. Very sincere gratitude is expressed to everyone who
helped smooth out the difficulties of the year, above all to Mrs. E. Lush, whose untiring devotion to
the organisation of both services has been beyond all praise, and to all the W.V.S. and B.R.C.S.
helpers. 5,142 midday meals were served, and again a special Christmas dinner was kindly provided
by W.V.S.
The removal to the Centre led to an increase in attendance at the Club.
Foot Clinics.—Clinic 1 can report another successful year. Miss Curran, Miss Lerner and Miss
Reeves gave 2,412 treatments. Miss Cotsford (B.R.C.S.) continued her helpful service as Appointments
Clerk. The big event of the year was the removal from the Town Hall, where the L.C.C.
had provided house-room since the service was started. This move required an adjustment in the
time-table of the Chiropodists, whose helpful co-operation was much appreciated.
Clinic 2 continued to hold one session weekly at All Souls' Church Club-house through the generous
hospitality of the Church. Miss Lerner, the Chiropodist in charge, was again helped by Mr. Vincent
with the appointments. 342 treatments were given, 7 new patients being taken on.
The Lisson Grove (L.C.C.) Clinic gave 1,609 treatments and, apart from regular patients, helped
33 who attended sporadically.
Home Chiropody.—This service was slightly expanded, 53 more visits being made—the total 763.
Twenty-two were on the waiting list at the end of the year. Before treatment can start for a new
patient delays are unfortunately unavoidable, but we were glad to take on 47 new patients.
Holidays.—Once again the main group holidays were arranged at Brighton, through Rutland
Tours Ltd. 105 elderly people were helped to enjoy a week's holiday in April/May, 11 others in the
autumn, both parties having favourable weather, and, on the whole, reporting very appreciatively
on the facilities provided. The contribution asked was still only £1 17s. 6d. a head, to include board,
transport, drives and an entertainment. The charge paid by the Association was £6 16s. 6d.
Twenty-two of the participants were helped in this way for the first time. ' Thank-you ' letters and
calls afterwards were as appreciative if not all as eloquent as the following: ' Our hosts were very
capable and considerate; our accommodation was very comfortable. Our meals were very pleasant
and varied, promptly and cheerfully served and quite suitable and ample for a mixed party of old
people ... To thank you for your very diligent and capable planning towards ensuring that we old
folks get a healthy break after Winter, to tide us over another year.'