View report page

College in September 1963. This was the first and only course at this level
which had been authorised by the Institute apart from those run at their own
headquarters. The Head of the Bakery Department at the College covered that
portion of the syllabus which dealt with food technology, the Senior Pathologist
from Oldchurch Hospital the bacteriology, and members of the Health Department
staff epidemiology and food hygiene. The course was still in progress at the
end of the year, but six of the eight candidates who sat the examination in
January 1964 were successful. Courses for the Certificate in Food Hygiene were
run both at Rush Green College and in one of the bakeries, and during the year
57 out of 74 candidates passed the examination. In addition to these examination
courses, which last about thirteen weeks each, five short courses of one or two
talks each were given to groups of trainee manageresses of bakers' shops. It is
pleasing to note that many of the trainees subsequently became students on
examination courses.
At the beginning of 1963 a letter was received from "The Caterers' Journal"
suggesting that a series of articles be produced on clean food. These were
prepared by the Health Education Officer and myself and were published in six
successive issues of the journal under the title of "A Modern Approach to Food
Hygiene".
Film and Film Strip Production
At last the long-awaited Health Department film "Help Yourself to Health"
was completed, and is proving very useful as a means of illustrating the work of
the department. Allowance was made in the estimates for a limited amount of
local film making, and a proportion of this was used to continue with the record
of child development in its various stages. This film, when completed, should
provide a useful illustration of the various stages of development reached by
different children of the same age. Messrs. Camera Talks once more requested
our help in the preparation of a film strip, this one being entitled "Exercises
for the Over 60's". It was 'shot' at the Kingsley Hall Centre towards the end
of the year, but at the time of writing this report has not been released.
Dagenham Town Show
The theme chosen for the health department marquee was Clean Air, and in
it help was received from Messrs. Leo Fire, the Gas and Electricity Boards and
the Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation. The latter provided a display comprising
an open fire and a closed stove, both working through special flues. In view of
the inclement weather these proved a source of considerable attraction. Maps
of the present and proposed smoke control areas were on display, and advice on
administrative problems was supplied by the staff of the health department. A
vehicle depicting the advantages of clean air was prepared for the parade, but
owing to a technical fault it was unable to appear on the day.
Home Safety
No specific home safety week was held in 1963 as the national theme was
Training for Safety, and it was felt that the work being done in clinics,
schools and with adult groups formed a continuous implementation of the topic.
Close liaison was maintained with RoSPA Headquarters and with the other members
of No. 9 Area Home Safety Committee, where amongst other topics the problems
associated with the reorganisation of local government in the Greater London
area were considered.
Talks
The following talks were given by me during 1963:-
29