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The building of two centres was completed during the year. The Willesden Green Senior Club was
opened to old people in August. It was formerly a health clinic and the extensive adaptations, planned and
carried out by the Council, cost some £8,000. The Kensal Rise Senior Club was opened in September. The
building was designed by the Council and built by private contractors. It cost the Council £18,000. The
Clubs are open every day, except Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The 300 members of each club pay 1/a
year and the amenities include rooms for billiards, television, hobbies, reading and spacious main club
rooms for meals, whist drives and concerts. Light refreshments are available at certain hours during the day.
The legal ownership of the building remains with the Council, the management is in the hands of the Old
People's Welfare Committee.
One of the important services which the Committee organise is the assisted holiday scheme for old
people to go for a fortnight to the seaside during the summer months at a cost of £2 per week (including fare).
Accommodation and travel to holiday homes or private guest houses is arranged with the choice of the most
popular resorts. 351 old people had holidays from June to September. A holiday for several lonely old
people was also arranged at the holiday homes at Christmas and several other lonely ones received invitations
from families willing to have them during the festive season.
Three more luncheon clubs, which open on Tuesday and Thursday, were started during the year: at
Harlesden Congregational Church, Church Road, N.W. 10 in January ; Neasden Methodist Church, Neasden
Lane, N.W.10 in May; and the new Willesden Green Senior Club, High Road, N.W.10 in August. There
are now six clubs operating and it is proposed to open two more in 1962. When the Kensal Rise Senior
Club, Mortimer Road, was opened in September, the club at St. Martin's Church Hall, Mortimer Road, was
transferred to the new premises. By arrangement with the Middlesex County Council, the meals are cooked
at a school meals centre and delivered by transport provided by the committee to the clubs in insulated containers.
The meal, including sweet, costs the old people Is. 3d. and a total of 22,496 were served during the
year. The old people enjoy a good, hot, well-cooked meal and the opportunity of meeting friends.
With the opening of the Kensal Rise Senior Club with its spacious and well-equipped kitchen it was
possible for the committee to take over from the W.V.S. the cooking of meals for the meals-on-wheels service
on 21st November. The W.V.S. still arrange the distribution. 1,438 meals were prepared to the end of the
year.
For those who can get out there are many clubs where they can find companionship. To assist
some of these clubs and attract more members the Committee arranged for professional entertainers to visit
fourteen of them one afternoon each month during the winter. This service is greatly appreciated by the
members, and supplements the summer entertainment in the parks.
After Harvest Thanksgiving, gifts of food were received from a few schools and churches, in particular
from the Wykeham Junior School. Perishable items were distributed immediately, but a quantity of
dry goods were kept back and were distributed from time to time when help was needed quickly.
At Christmas nearly 1,500 food parcels or vouchers were distributed to the over 70's who were in
need The Committee spent £750 on this service.
The problems which are brought to the office are varied and numerous and. a large number of cases
are referred by hospitals when an old person is about to be sent home. Much visiting and case-work is carried
out and the following figures show the growth of the work:—
1959 1960 1961
Office interviews 715 1,139 1,724
Home visits 826 1,043 1,395
In addition, 491 visits were paid to elderly persons where on the basis of the Registrar's returns
they had suffered the loss of a partner. On the recommendation of the Welfare Organiser 36 wireless sets
were supplied to the bed-ridden by the Wireless for the bed-ridden Society. The Shenley Group Hospital
Management Committee made a gift of eighteen television sets which were overhauled and repaired and distributed
to the housebound.
The Welfare Organiser acts as a referee to various charitable organisations and distributes monetary
payments on their behalf.
All the above services are financed from a grant of £8,605 which the Council set aside for the Committee's
use in 1961/62.
BURIAL OF THE DEAD
In accordance with the provisions of section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, arrangements
were made for the burial of twelve persons during the year, at a cost of £138 15s. 0d., £70 15s. Od. being
recovered from the relatives.
PUBLIC MORTUARY
Post-mortems were performed on 616 bodies, followed by an inquest in 111.
71 inquests were held on Willesden residents but only 10 of these were held in the Coroner's Court
attached to the mortuary. The remainder were held at Ealing.