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FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Under the slogan "Someone Cares", the Worshipful the Mayor,
Councillor D.S. Ramsey, J.P., constituted another Festival of
Christmas Committee this year with a view to co-ordinating and
encouraging various voluntary bodies in the Borough to organise
a number of efforts and projects and thereby raise funds for gifts
for the aged at Christmas. Among the activities were the switching
on of the lights in the main shopping area and the Christmas Tree
lights; a Festival of Christmas Ball organised by Nalgo; Stage
Coach tours of the Borough in which singers in Dickensian costume
toured the area accompanied by Bell Ringers to collect funds for
the Mayor's Appeal; carol services, and programmes of recorded
carols during the lunch-time and for a short period in the evenings.
A number of other fund raising efforts were also arranged.
Members of the Council' staff again volunteered to deliver
the Mayor's gifts to the old folk, and altogether made 1,800 calls
to the old folk during the ten days before Christmas.
The Appeal was again most successful and the amount collected
was £2,355, of which approximately £1,800 was given to individual
old folk in the Borough, the balance being used during the year to
give help to old people when it was needed.
GIFTS OF FUEL AND FOOD FOR NEEDY OLD PEOPLE
During the cold spell at the beginning of the year, the
Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Mrs. M.E. Polley, J.P., authorised
the purchase of 30 tons of coal and 3 tons of Sebrite to be delivered
in small quantities to needy old folk who were found to be without
fuel and who could not expect early delivery by their merchants.
The names of the recipients, numbering over 400, were obtained
from the Department's visiting staff, from the Chief Housing Officer,
local clergymen and general medical practitioners, the W.V.S., the
District Nursing Association, the National Assistance Board, and others.
Through the generosity of the Mayor, gifts of food to several
old people who were found to be short of food during the cold spell
were arranged by the Department.
VOLUNTARY WORK FOR THE ELDERLY
The Old People's Welfare Committee are being supported by many
voluntary helpers in this work. Over 100 voluntary visitors are now
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