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35
Voluntary workers made regular visits at weekly or fortnightly intervals to 40 old people; there
is however, a shortage of visitors. At Christmas the visitors delivered a gift from the Association of 5s.
or Christmas fare to these old people.
Arrangements were made with Messrs. J. Lyons & Son to deliver Frood Christmas dinners on
Christmas Eve to 10 bed-ridden old people who paid 5s. each.
Five well-attended Christmas parties (about 150 old people in each) were organised, and were
thoroughly enjoyed. A high tea and entertainment were provided and they were all given a 2s. gift.
There has been an extension in the free chiropody service for old people, and the Association now
have arrangements with two local chiropodists, one in the Kilburn area and the other in the Harlesden area,
to treat 8 old people free of charge weekly. The chiropodist in Kilburn also visits 4 old people who are
confined to their homes.
On the recommendation of the welfare officer free coal was supplied to old people who could not
afford to buy it.
The Willesden Division of the British Red Cross and many churches in the area also run clubs for
the old folk and their members visit them in their homes.
Probably the most important service for old people is the meals service organised by the Women's
Voluntary Services. The Old Folks Morning and Luncheon Club, opened at the Presbyterian Hall, Granville
Road, Kilburn, on the 31st January, 1952, provides old people with hot meals. The cost of a lunch is 1/-,
and l^d. for a cup of coffee or tea. 13,605 meals were served during the year, as compared with 15,759
during 1952. The meals-on-wheels service organised from the same premises, served 4,720 meals during
the year to old people in their homes, as compared with 2,628 during 1952. This is a considerable increase,
but only two meals a week are supplied to each person. The aim is to give a hot meal to old people five
days a week in all parts of the Borough.
Through the Morning and Luncheon Club and the meals service, the W.V.S. get to know the old
people who require more help, and they visit approximately 20 homes per week, providing clothes and other
necessities.
BURIAL OF DESTITUTE DEAD
In accordance with the provisions of Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, arrangements
were made for the burial of 14 persons during the year. The total cost to the Council was
£155 13s. 0d., of which £58 16s. 4d. was recovered by the Borough Treasurer.
The cases came to the notice of the department from the following sources:—
St. Andrew's Hospital 3
Friends or relatives of deceased 10
Coroner's Officer 1
PUBLIC MORTUARY
In accordance with Section 198 of the Public Health Act, 1936, 475 bodies were dealt with at the
mortuary as follows :—
Post-mortems and inquests 69
Adjourned inquests 28
Total post-mortems 475
LICENSING OF HAWKERS
Hawkers of food and premises used by them for storage accommodation must be registered by the
Council (Section 11 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950). Two hawkers were registered during
1953, making a total of 21.
Fruit and vegetables 19
Fish 1
Miscellaneous 1
Total 21
COMMON LODGING HOUSES
There are now no common lodging houses in the district registered under Section 237 of the Public
Health Act, 1936.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE LICENCES
One application for the renewal of a slaughterhouse licence was received and granted under Section
157 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, but no slaughtering was carried out during 1953.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951 and the Rag Flock and Other Filling
Materials Regulations, 1951 came into operation on the 1st November, 1951. The Regulations specify the
standards of cleanliness for the filling materials, the analysis for the tests, the fees which may be charged
by the analyst, and the form of records to be kept by the occupiers of the premises registered and licensed
under the Act.