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other old people needing care whilst their families were on holiday.
Local organisations and friends arranged shopping expeditions and
trips into the country, and also ran a weekly " shop " and arranged
jumble sales for the old people. The British Red Cross Society
also arranged a weekly library service.
WOMEN'S VOLUNTARY SERVICES
Over 60's Clubs.
These Clubs meet once a week on various days in different
parts of Bromley, and there are 10 functioning at the present time
in the Borough. The old people have the opportunity of meeting
and making friends, playing games and doing handicrafts together,
and enjoy the chat and ever pleasant cup of tea. Sick visiting is
done by members of the Clubs and the W.V.S. helpers.
The members are very busy working for a County Handicraft
Exhibition in 1958. This gives them an aim for serious work.
Club Leaders arrange outings to the sea in the summer, and half
day outings during the spring and autumn. This is a regular
feature of the Clubs.
Several Clubs have their own Concert Party. The Church
service arranged for the combined clubs is now an annual feature
of Club life and is looked forward to and well attended.
Meals on Wheels and Luncheon Club.
An average of 70/80 meals are cooked by voluntary workers
4 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) at the
Meals Kitchen, St. Mary's Church House, College Road, Bromley.
Sixty meals are taken out in insulated containers in two W.V.S.
vans, and old people who are mobile can take advantage of a
luncheon club which is run in conjunction with the kitchen at St.
Mary's Church House.
On September 30th. W.V.S. finished the fourth year of cooking
meals on wheels service, and in the last week in October. 1956.
delivered the 55.000th meal cooked by the teams at the kitchen.
14.475 meals were cooked during 1956.
Over the four years, much has been done to improve this
service, and during 1956. 5 new Hotlock insulated containers were
added to the equipment, improving considerably the delivery of the
meal. These containers are heated with charcoal which ensures that
the last meal remains as hot as the first one to be delivered.
In spite of the increased cost of food and the high cost of
potatoes and vegetables earlier in the year, the cost of the meal
over the year has been l,/6d.. which includes food, heating and
cleaning. The old people pay from 1/- to l/6d. according to their
means.