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A further 16 people were helped in various ways, some having a fortnight's care at the Church
Army short-stay Home at Woking, others visiting friends or relations.
The Association contributed £40 to the Fourth Feathers Club holiday scheme transport.
Visiting.—For a number of years the professional visiting of elderly people in their homes has
been carried out by Miss Sharp, more recently by Miss B. Wilson also. This has been a most fortunate
arrangement for the Association, as the close and friendly co-operation of these two Public Health
Inspectors has ensured a valuable exchange of information.
Social Visiting.—The Visitors' Committee held 8 meetings with Miss Sharp, Mrs. Cowan, and
latterly Mr. Gosby. In this field as in all services, Miss Sharp has given freely of her advice and help
from an exceptionally wide experience. All Souls' Church, still operating the largest group of
Visitors, was represented first by the Rev. O. M. Thomson, later by Dr. D. E. Ford. Councillor
J. G. Brown, Chairman, attended a meeting in order to get to know the Visitors and their work.
Mr. J. Bedward of the Public Health Department attended another, to discuss home safety matters
with the Committee. Dr. Ford drew attention to the problem of accidental hypothermia in elderly
people. The meetings were devoted as usual to the dissemination of information likely to be of use
to the Visitors, and to discussion of some of the problems they met. Owing to several Visitors having
left the neighbourhood, the Association would welcome the help of a few recruits (men as well as
women) who could spare a little time for this most essential service. ' Can there be any question '
to quote from the National Corporation for the Care of Old People—17th Annual Report—' but
that the individual approach to those who are both old and lonely is bound to produce a far greater
feeling of support and security than can be given by all the official services put together ? '
Decorating.—Decoration was undertaken in twenty-nine homes of elderly people by groups of
volunteers connected with Hinde Street Methodist Church and from St. John's Wood Church
Voluntary Service Group. Expenditure by the Association was £121 6s. 2d., but the National
Assistance Board refunded £45 15s. 7d.; in a number of cases pensioners themselves were glad to
help with the cost of materials, contributing £39 18s. 1d.: the net expenditure was thus £35 12s. 6d.,
of which part would probably be recovered. Miss Sharp and Miss Wilson again gave much thought
to deciding priority for the jobs, and to organising the offers of voluntary help. ' I am delighted
with my room since it was decorated. How can I thank the students enough for all the work they
put into doing it for me '. This was a typical note of appreciation and as usual the old folk enjoyed
the cheerful company of the young people, who often followed up their kindnesses in other ways.
Relief.—The B.R.C.S. are always co-operative and provided a gas heater and an electric heater,
when their attention was drawn to cases of great need. They also helped with transport for many
purposes. Through special donations considerable help was given towards heating appliances
and bills. Smaller items of help varied from cleaning an eiderdown to lowering gas meters and
providing keys and ferrules for sticks. Additional groceries were provided for a number of Christmas
parcels. Through the kindness of Mrs. Fewster and Mrs. Hawkings it has been possible to continue
providing a T.V. set on hire for an elderly homebound man.
Clubs.—No major development or change is reported, but news of the Clubs comes regularly to
the Executive. All have special events in summer and in winter and do steady work of real benefit
to their members. Members sick in hospital are not forgotten. A great many more people, who
seem too shy or for some other reason do not wish to join a Club, would obviously be better for the
companionship and the stimulus of a regular outing to look forward to. The St. John's Wood
Darby & Joan Club makes use of special transport to bring infirm members to the meeting.
Library Service to Housebound and partially-sighted readers.—The book delivery service to housebound
readers instituted in 1957 has been carried out regularly by the Libraries Department, mainly
to cases recommended by the Home Help services. Forty-one readers (all except one of whom are
elderly) are at present receiving this service and 5,981 books have been delivered to them in 1964.
The fortnightly visits and the service received are much appreciated by the readers. Progress has
been made in the provision of books specially printed in larger type for partially-sighted readers.
These are being published by the Ulverscroft Press (F. A. Thorpe, Leicester). Copies are available
at the Central Public Library and Branch Libraries and also for housebound readers, if
required.
Radio 6- Television.—Twelve new applicants received radio sets on loan from the ' Wireless for
the Bedridden ' Society. In addition 30 enjoy sets provided in previous years: 8 other sets were
returned to the Society. There is an increase of 4 in the number of sets under the supervision of the
Association: Other sets were sponsored by different bodies. Twenty television sets (3 of which
were provided in 1964) supplied by the anonymous benefactors through the Central Consultative
Committee give very real pleasure, enhanced by the provision of licences. The help here again of
Miss Sharp and Miss Wilson has been invaluable. Two sets were returned.