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Chiropody
The service was maintained throughout the year by the Middlesex County
Council whereby old people could have their foot defects treated at the surgeries
of local chiropodists as reduced cost or free of charge. The number of persons
treated in this scheme was 82 in 1961
In 1959 the Minister of Health invited local authorities to submit proposals
for a chiropody service under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act,
1946 The proposals for Middlesex were approved in September 1960, and a service
started at Chiswick in January 1961, and at Brentford in October 1961. During
the year 147 persons made 526 attendances at the County Council's Foot Clinics,,
A voluntary service of Chiropody is maintained by the Brentford Philanthropic
Society for old people in the Brentford end of the Borough and served
by a local chiropodist,, The fee to the patient is one shilling per foot and
140 persons had treatment in 1961.
Old Folks Friendship Club
This is a specially built club house opened in April, 1955, for the use as
a social and recreational centre of old age pensioners living in Brentford and
Chiswick^ The club is open Monday to Friday from 1 - 5 p.m, and there is an
organiser in attendance. The old people are enrolled as members at their first
attendance, membership costs only one penny per week, and there are 250 names
on the register The members can visit every day, if they wish, for rest room
or reading room facilities, or just to meet their friends and talk, but many
social occasions are provided for them in the way of concerts, whist drives,
etc A television set is installed in the lounge, a radiogram in the concert
hall and a large billiard table is provided for the male members. Light refreshments
are available„ This club also arranges summer outings (of which there
were four in 1961) and an annual Christmas party. Three visits to West End
Theatres at a cheap price were arranged during the Christmas season.
Through this club the members are also able to obtain information about
the special services at reduced rates which are available within the Borough for
them such as laundry shoe repairs and hairdressing and they can be given
advice on any difficulties that occur in their private liveSo A special blend
of tea is also available at an economical pricec Members living alone are
encouraged to make use of the S.0.S. card scheme, and have the card ready and
completed with personal details for window display should an emergency occur.
This is the only club premises open daily for the use of old age pensioners
but there are other clubs meeting in different parts of the Borough once a week
to which mobile old age pensioners become attached as members, for social and
recreational purposes
Brentford Old Folks Social Club
This club meets every Wednesday 1.30 p.m. - 5 p.m. and has 150 members.
The meetings are social with periodic visiting entertainers. There are 3 or 4
summer outings, a free tea once per month and two annual parties.
Old Age Pensions Association (Brentford Branch)
The membership of this Club has continued to rise, and in 1961 was over
100 There is a weekly meeting of a social nature with occasional Concert
Parties Two free outings per year, an annual tea and a Christmas dinner are
held The Association runs a penny a week club for sickness and deaths and had
in 1961 two Sick Visitors who went to ailing members and took gifts of flowers,
eggs or fruit from the Association to the sick persons
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