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To:-
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COMMONS
OF THE CITY OF LONDON IN COMMON COULCIL ASSEMBLED
My Lord Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour, as Medical Officer for the Port of London, to submit my Annual Report for
the year ending 31st December, 1972.
This Report has been prepared in accordance with the directive issued by the Secretary of
State and contains the full details required by form Port 20.
The Port Authority continued to rationalise facilities in the Port, including construction in
Tilbury Dock of a new West African trade Terminal. This is designed to provide specialised
facilities for the handling of conventional cargo late in 1973. Sheerness Docks also became fully
operational during the year. These changes affected the organisation of port health services to
a certain extent.
The national dock strike which lasted from the 28th July to the 20th August not only put
perishable cargoes in the Port at risk, but also affected the movement of laden refuse lighters and
caused several nuisances.
During the year Members of the Port and City of London Health Committee continued the
traditional practice of visiting the Port Health District. Visits were made to Tilbury Dock, the
Royal Group of Docks and Sheerness Docks. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Research Laboratory at Burnham on Crouch was also visited at the invitation of the Head of the
Marine Pollution Unit. The visit was associated with the survey into the possible pollution of
shellfish which was carried out by the Unit in the River Roach section of the District with a
view to the Port of London Health Authority making an Order.
The year saw the Centenary of the institution of the Corporation of London as Port Health
Authority for the Port of London.
To commemorate the occasion an exhibition of the work of the Port Health Authority was
mounted in the Corporation's permanent Exhibition Hall "A City for the Whole Man", with the
title "Port Health 100". This was opened by the Lord Mayor on Friday, 23rd June, 1972, and
was open to the public for nine months. A 20-page booklet was produced setting out the history
of the service and the current situation. Leaflets for general distribution were also produced.
Because of the Centenary the 73rd Annual Conference of the Association of Sea and Air
Port Health Authorities of the British Isles was held in Guildhall on Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday, 28th, 29th and 30th June, 1972. The President for the Conference was H.T. Pike, Esq.,
Deputy, Deputy Chairman of the Port and City of London Health Committee.
The Centenary was suitably commemorated by Delegates and their Ladies and distinguished
guests by a Banquet in the Mansion House at which the Corporation was honoured by the attendance
of H.R.H. Prince William of Gloucester.
Papers given at the Conference included:—
1. "London Port Health Authority Centenary - the work of Dr. H. Leach, the first Medical
Officer of Health of the Port"
by Dr. W.G. Swann, Medical Officer of Health for the Port and City of London.
2. "The Role of the Port Health Inspector -Past, Present and Future"
by Mr. A.H. Marshall, Chief Port Health Inspector, London Port Health Authority.
These papers are reproduced as Appendices to this Annual Report.
I wish to express my appreciation of the invaluable assistance which has been given by the
numerous individuals and organisations whose work is so closely allied with ours in the Port. The
co-operation which is displayed is of the utmost importance in carrying out the multitude of
operations in which we are involved.
I have the honour to be, my Lord Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant
W.G. SWANN, M.D., B.Sc.,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port and City of London.
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