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52
has always been to find a house at a reasonable rent belonging to a landlord
who would permit the necessary reconstruction that a Day Nursery equipment
involves, and further, the house had to be in a central and easily get-at-able
place. In the latter part of 1933 such a house was found. Anonymous friends
put £100 at the disposal of the Rector, who immediately took the house for a
year, as he had absolute faith in the public-spirited generosity of Hackney
citizens to make good the opportunity. This faith has been magnificently
justified, and it must have been shared by the Committee of the Kilburn Day
Nursery, for, when their Home closed at the end of 1933, they gave, as a free
gift, most of the furniture and equipment of their Nursery plus a cheque of
£100 to help to start the Hackney Day Nursery. The Hackney Rotarians,
with their special gift of being fairy godfathers to good causes, followed up
with a donation of £100, which was augmented by a further £100 later in the
year. Fairy godmothers were found in the members of the Inner Wheel, who
have worked magnificently for the success of the Nursery, but what really made
success assured was the wonderful lead given to us by our Mayor, Councillor
C. Fisher Yates, J.P., and Mrs. Fisher Yates. They gathered an enthusiastic
audience of over 300 people at the Town Hall on Thursday, April 19th, to
celebrate the opening of the Nursery. The Mayoress, Mrs. C. Fisher Yates,
herself " with a golden key opened this door of happiness for the little children
of Hackney," and I think we may say that the project is still as dear to her
heart and to that of her husband as it was on that day when she stood in a
gleam of sunshine and spoke those words of hope.
Our thanks are due to so many who have helped us that it is almost
invidious to mention names, but in this foreword it would be only right to
acknowledge our great indebtedness to our Hon. Architect, A. Rubens Cole,
Esq., for all the skill and painstaking care that he lavished on the re-conditioning
of 85, Hackney Grove.
N. A. LASH,
__________ Rector of Hackney.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
In presenting the Statement of Accounts, from the opening of the Day
Nursery in April, 1934, to the 31st December, I wish to extend our grateful
appreciation and thanks to all the kindly folk who have, by so generously
contributing to our funds, assisted us so much.
Especial thanks are due to the Kilburn Day Nursery, who started us off
with a donation of £100.
To the Rector of Hackney (Rev. N. A. Lash), who was instrumental in
obtaining a donor for the first year's Rent and Rates.
The Rector has also wonderfully assisted us by being responsible for a
further donation, as you will see by the subscription list.
Our most grateful thanks are due also to the Rotary Club of Hackney, for
the very handsome gift of £200.
To the Hackney Inner Wheel Club (Ladies' Section of the Rotary), for a
donation of £25 and also to the Alexandra Day Committee, who most generously
granted us £35 from their funds.
To all those ladies who helped with the collection on "Daisy Day," we
desire to give a special "Thank you," as their efforts enabled us to receive the
sum of £39 7s. 5d. from the National Council for Maternity and Child Welfare.
We are also indebted to the several organisations who, by having arranged
dances, plays, concerts, etc., have so admirably supported us financially.
Councillor C. Fisher Yates (our Chairman) and Mrs. Fisher Yates (one of
our Vice-Presidents), during their year of office as Mayor and Mayoress of
Hackney, did trojan work in raising money foe the Hackney Day Nursery.