London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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restricted the full development of this important part of the children's
Physical Education. Swimming instruction has been limited to
the privileged few, and this has served to standardise what is really
a very poor demand. In Walthamstow less than 50 per cent. of
the eligible children attend for swimming instruction. Unfortunately,
the curtailment of the swimming season, and consequent
inability to hold the usual examinations, makes it impossible to
indicate the extent of improvement by an increase in the number
of certificates obtained. For the sake of continuity, however, the
following table is reproduced:—
"Number of certificates obtained:
| Lengths. | 100 yds. | 1/4-mile. | ½-Length on back. | Royal Life Saving Society Certificates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elem. | Inter. | Medallions | |||||
| Girls: | |||||||
| 1936 | 280 | 222 | 116 | 207 | 39 | 36 | 5 |
| 1937 | 373 | 221 | 155 | 218 | 40 | 40 | 11 |
| 1938 | 312 | 200 | 162 | 191 | 41 | 42 | 13 |
| 1939 | 175 1st exam. only. | no examination. | 27 | 26 | (2 bars) | ||
| 5 | |||||||
| 1st examination only. | |||||||
| Boys: | |||||||
| 1936 | 273 | 166 | 104 | 147 | 50 | 24 | — |
| 1937 | 375 | 249 | 138 | 200 | 41 | 16 | — |
| 1938 | 342 | 197 | 132 | 172 | 50 | 31 | 5 |
| 1939 | 219 | no examination. | 47 | — | 9 | ||
| 1st exam. only. | 1st examination only. | ||||||
"Play Centres.—The following centres were opened in May
and conducted on similar lines as for 1938:—
Playgrounds. Parks and Recreation Grounds
Blackhorse Road School. Aveling Park.
Chapel End School. Higham Hill Rec.
Wood Street School. St. James' Park.
Selwyn Avenue School.
"The construction of air-raid shelters in the parks interfered
with the full development of the scheme, and made it impossible
to re-open the centre at Selborne Road Recreation Ground. The
closure of this ground emphasises the urgent need for further
recreational facilities in this district. Activities at the Higham
Hill ground were also seriously restricted.
"Regular visits were paid to all centres throughout the season,
and once again we wish to thank the Parks Committee and the
various members of their staff who contributed so much towards
the successful working of the scheme.