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PREFACE
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF THE
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES.
ANNUAL REPORT . 1954.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report on the
public health and sanitary circumstances of the Borough for
1954. The Report follows a similar pattern to that for
previous years, gives information on essential matters
affecting the Public Health, and is in accordance with
Ministry of Health Circulars 42/51, and 1/54.
I am indebted to Mr. G.C. Smith, Senior Sanitary
Inspector, and Mr. M.E. Powell, Chief Clerk, for much help
in drafting and compiling the Report.
Population - The estimated mid 1954 home population
given by the Registrar General is 39,l60 an estimated
decrease of 780 persons compared with 1953. This figure
is the resident night population, and has been used for
the calculation of the statistical data now presented.
The actual day population has been estimated to be about
300,000 persons who congregate in the town for business,
education, entertainment and recreation purposes. This
is a special feature of the town and influences the volume
of work and responsibility of the Public Health Department.
Attention was drawn in the 1953 Report to the facts
and figures published by the Registrar General and based
on the 1951 Census. The most significant figure was that
concerning the density of population, which for Kingston
was 28.5 persons per acre (Canbury Ward 24.5: Hill Ward 33.7:
Norbiton Ward 35.6: and Town Ward 24.6). This is a far
higher density than for any other town in Surrey (e.g.
Croydon 19.7: Wimbledon 18,1: Maiden 14.4: Surblton 12.9:
Richmond 10.2).
For the purposes of further comparison enquiries
were made to the General Register Office for information
regarding the density of population in other towns, with
a population figure approximately the same as Kingston.
I am very grateful for the assistance given by the General
Register Office and for producing a list of 26 towns with
populations from 35,000 to 45,000, and with varying
densities of population, the highest of which was 15.3
persons per acre.
There are changing circumstances in the
population of the Borough which is to some extent a
dormitory town. The level of resident population has
remained remarkably constant however over the past 30 years.
At the three Censuses in 1921, 1931, 1951 the respective
populations were 39,514, 39,825, 40,172. At the time of
the latter Census there were 1,158 females to each 1,000
males, 39% of the population were single, 52% married and
9% widowed or divorced; 68% of the population were in the
age group 15-64, and 13% were aged 65 and over. There is
every reason to suppose that the percentage concerning the
group 65 and over has appreciably increased up to date and
will continue to do so.