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FRIENDLY VISITING SCHEME
Responsibility for the organisation of the friendly visiting
scheme, together with the recruitment of voluntary visitors, is
now with the new Old People's Welfare Co-ordinating Sub-Committee,
and is organised by a member of the staff of the Health Department.
Most of the voluntary visitors who previously worked with
the Council of Social Service are continuing in this work, and
new voluntary visitors are also coming forward to help.
INCONTINENT LAUNDRY SERVICE
This service is provided by the Council under powers contained
in the Public Health (London) Act, and the work is carried out by
the Health Department Disinfecting staff.
Only applicants who cannot make other suitable arrangements
for the laundering of their soiled linen are considered. Altogether
30,947 articles were laundered during the year, as follows
Night Attire 5,028; Sheets 5,554; Draw Sheets 4,786;
Blankets 107; Pillow Cases 3,045; Towels 2,879;
Miscellaneous 9,548.
FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS
The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Mrs. M.E. Polley, J.P.,
constituted a Festival of Christmas Committee with a view to coordinating
and encouraging the various voluntary bodies in the
Borough to make extra efforts to raise money for her Appeal Fund
for gifts and food parcels for old people at Christmas.
The Committee decided to stage a number of seasonal functions
with a view not only to raising money but also to engendering a real
Festival of Christmas spirit in the Borough.
In launching the Appeal the Mayor stated that as many old
people are particularly lonely at Christmas she was endeavouring to
raise funds so that gifts could be distributed amongst a much greater
number of old people and so do something to show them that someone
still cares.
The Festival was inaugurated by the switching on of the first
Christmas illuminations in London, and the Mayoral Party travelled
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