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Births.
The number of live births registered in Woolwich during 1954, was 2,298.
After correction for inward and outward transfers, the net number of Woolwich
live births was 2,035, being 55 less than in the previous year. Of the total births,
1,028 were boys and 1,007 girls. It is known that 1,680 births took place in public
institutions in the Borough, of which 1,062 concerned Woolwich mothers. The
birth rate was 13.5, which, when adjusted to allow for the differing age and sex
distribution of the population in various parts of the country, gives a birth rate
of 13.3 compared with the provisional birth rate for England and Wales and also for
London of 15-2. There were 47 stillbirths during the year under review.
Natural Increase in Population (i.e., Excess of Births over Deaths).
In 1954 the natural increase in population was 592. In 1953 it was 521 and
in 1952 it was 532.
Deaths.
The number of deaths registered in Woolwich was 1,180, and after correction
for inward and outward transfers the net number was 1,443, giving a death rate
of 9 6 for the Borough, compared with 10 4 the previous year.
The adjusted death rate for Woolwich was 9 5, compared with the provisional
figure of 10.9 for London and of 114 for England and Wales.
Deaths of Woolwich residents in hospitals in the Borough totalled 350, whilst
318 died in other hospitals outside the Borough.
Maternal Deaths.
There was one maternal death during the year, and none during the previous
year.
Inquests.
Sixty-four inquests were held on Woolwich residents during the year, and 348
post-mortems on Woolwich residents were carried out on behalf of the Coroner.
infant Mortality.
There was a further reduction in the infant death rate for the year, the rate
being 181 compared with 22 9 in 1953.
Motor V ehicle Accidents.
There were ten deaths of Woolwich residents due to motor vehicle accidents
during the year. One of the victims was a child under five, and two accidents
concerned persons over 75 years of age, one of whom was struck by a car whilst
crossing the street.
Other Accidents.
Accidents other than motor vehicle accidents were responsible for the deaths
of 31 Woolwich residents. Of these, at least 20 were due to falls in the home or
to other home accidents, including, for example, burns caused when a woman's
clothing was ignited by a gas fire, electrocution, and a fall from the balcony of a
flat. Three deaths related to persons who met with accidents at work. One of
these concerned a fall from a factory roof and another accident occurred when
the falling grab of a mobile crane struck a workman. The majority of falls in
the home related to elderly persons.
Marriages.
There were 1,065 marriages in the Borough during 1954, of which 635 took
place in Churches; the remaining 430 took place at the Woolwich Register Office.
Of the number of marriages which took place in Churches in the Borough, Registrars
of Marriages attended on 103 occasions.
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