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Births.
The number of live births registered in Woolwich during 1955 was 2,321.
After correction for inward and outward transfers, the net number of Woolwieh
live births was 1,971, being 64 less than in the previous year. Of the total births,
1,032 were boys and 939 girls. It is known that 1,762 births took place in public
institutions in the Borough, of which 916 concerned Woolwich mothers. The
birth rate was 13.2, 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 13.06 compared with the provisional birth rate for England and Wales of 15.0,
and also for London of 17.3. There were 38 stillbirths during the year under
review.
Natural Increase in Population, (i.e., Excess of Births over Deaths).
In 1955 the natural increase in population was 434. In 1954 it was 592, and
in 1953 it was 521.
Deaths.
The number of deaths registered in Woolwich was, 1,397, and after correction
for inward and outward transfers the net number was 1,537, giving a death rate of
10.3 for the Borough, compared with 9.6 the previous year.
The adjusted death rate for Woolwich was 10.2, compared with the provisional
figure of 10.8 for London and of 11.7 for England and Wales.
Deaths of Woolwich residents in hospitals in the Borough totalled 449, whilst
428 died in other hospitals outside the Borough.
Maternal Deaths.
There were two maternal deaths during the year and one during the previous
year.
Inquests.
Seventy-one inquests were held on Woolwich residents during the year, and
219 post-mortems on Woolwich residents were carried out on behalf of the Coroner.
Infant Mortality.
The infant death rate for the year was 19.7, compared with 18.1 in 1954 ; and
24.9 for England and Wales.
Motor Vehicle Accidents.
The total number of Woolwich road accidents during the year was 16, being
six more than in the previous year. However, there were no road fatalities relating
to children under 15 years of age during 1955. Seven of the persons concerned
were over 65 years of age. Two of the cases related to persons who were struck
by motor vehicles whilst riding pedal cycles ; an elderly woman was also struck
by a pedal cycle and received fatal injuries whilst walking in the road, and a young
man received fatal injuries when his racing car ran over the bank of a race track.
Other Accidents.
Deaths due to other accidents totalled 32, including 18 persons over the age
of 65 years, mainly due to falls in or near the house, and in most cases resulting in
fracture of the femur.
There were three cases of drowning ; one of a child occurring at the seaside,
and two of adults in the River Thames.
There were also fatal injuries sustained by a number of persons whilst at work,
including injuries received from a moving crane ; a fall by a steel erector from a
Power Station roof ; a fall from a ladder into a ship's hold ; and fatal injuries
received to the head when a man was struck by a falling load from a crane.
Domestic accidents included electrocution received by an amateur when touching
a wireless set, and shock from burns when elderly women's clothing became ignited
(two cases).
Marriages.
There were 1,226 marriages in the Borough during 1955, of which 762 took
place in Churches ; the remaining 464 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 88 occasions.
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