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20
"Meals on Wheels."
Orpington W.V.S. members served 7,745 meals during 1959, an
increase of 1,345 over the previous year. A free Christmas dinner,
with the addition of fruit and sweets was sent round at Christmas.
The old people still only pay 1/- for their meal. Deliveries are made
three times a week. The Almoners at Orpington Hospital frequently
appeal for help, when re-habilitating some old person.
Darby and Joan Clubs.
The Famborough Club has a membership of 50, but as many of
the members are infirm, cars are laid on to enable them to get to the
Club once a week. The Rookery Club at St. Mary Cray has a
slightly larger membership. The leaders and helpers, besides working
at the Clubs, take a personal interest in the members, caring for them
when they are sick and befriending them in every way.
General Welfare Work.
Many appeals for help are received from the Almoners of the
local hospitals. The requests vary from visiting, shopping, and to
car escorting. 318 car escort journeys were carried out during 1959.
an increase of 75 on the 1958 figure. The Trolley Shop continues its
valuable work at Famborough Hospital—some of the profits were
used to provide curtaining for a ward and also garden seats and a
shelter for the Psychiatric Ward.
Orpington and District Old People's Welfare Committee.
The Honorary Secretary has kindly furnished the following
report:—
" The Orpington and District Old People's Welfare Committee
continues to provide a means of regular contact between the many
organisations that help old folk in Orpington, and to foster locally
a general interest in the care of the elderly. It also provides a liaison
between the dozen Old People's Clubs that brighten the lives of old
folk in the Orpington area. The Committee's Benevolent Fund,
fed by donations, relieves genuine distress among the elderly
people living in all parts of the Urban District of Orpington."
British Red Cross Society—Medical Loan Depot.
One medical loan depot is in operation in the area, where a
full range of nursing requisites is held and articles are available to
local residents. A small charge is normally made, but, in
necessitous cases, and for most old age pensioners articles are
loaned free.