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58
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
During the past year the Nursery has continued successfully to fulfil the
purpose for which it was founded. A very large number of children have been
cared for by the Matron, Miss Newbegin, and the capable Staff, and the general
efficiency of the amenities provided has been extended considerably. As the
usefulness of the Nursery is more fully demonstrated so are many new friends
gained, but during the past year a few notable old friends have gone away.
Among the latter it is a matter of deep regret that the Rector, the Rev. N. A.
Lash and Mrs. Lash, decided to move from Hackney and thus lose their close
touch with a work from which their names can never be separated. On the other
hand the Nursery found two very staunch friends in Edwin Wigan, Esq., J.P.,
and Mrs. Wigan, the Mayor and Mayoress of Hackney, 1934-35. Their visits
and their kindness on our first Pound Day were of the most valuable assistance
and especially gratifying. Moreover, I really must say how extremely grateful
we all are to our President, Lady Amherst of Hackney, for the extraordinarily
munificent help given to the Nursery in the past year and to say how sincerely
thankful we all are.
Also the two Vice-Presidents have rendered their usual super-excellent
services and without the tremendous keenness and enthusiasm of our Treasurer,
Mrs. C. H. Brown, and our Secretary, Mrs. R. Izzard, we cannot imagine how
we would possibly carry on. They are both pillars of strength and spare no
efforts or pains in everything they do.
Dr. Turtle, our Honorary Medical Adviser, has as usual been most kind:
his medical assistance and supervision have been invaluable and his wide
experience and ability have been of immense service to the Nursery.
Two new Members of the Committee were nominated for the year by the
Hackney Borough Council, and one whose help and interest were much appreciated
was Mrs. Stevens, and it is only a matter for regret that Councillor Dr.
Leff was unable to be present at the Committee Meetings.
Two further Members nominated for this year by the Borough Council have
now joined the Committee in the persons of Councillor Mrs. L. E. Golbourn
and Mrs. A. M. Mortlock. They are very welcome and have already proved
most helpful.
I ought to render praise to each and every Member of the Committee but
know that it would be against their wishes for me to do so. I must simply
content myself with saying that they have all worked hard and achieved most
pleasing results in everything they have undertaken.
It is not possible to see how we could manage without the experienced
services so generously rendered by our Honorary Auditors, Messrs. Button,
Stevens & Witty, and our Honorary Architect, Mr. A. Rubens Cole, L.R.I.B.A.
Many kind and thoughtful actions have been done for the Nursery by others
who have only an unofficial but nevertheless genuine interest in its welfare and
I am sure that it is the wish of all that the numerous acts of kindness by Mr. J.
Manning and Mrs. Manning should be recorded.
A certain amount of valuable assistance has been rendered by the Occupational
and Recreational Centre for Unemployed Men with the sanction of its
Chairman, Mr. S. A. McCarthy.
The gift of a beautiful radiogram by Mr. R. Izzard was the means of
providing a useful addition to our funds, and the presentation of the radiogram
at a ceremony arranged by Mr. Montague Cohen at the Empress Cinema in
Mare Street, supported by the Managing Director of Pye Radio Co. (who most
unexpectedly and very generously presented another set) are acts of kindness
typical of many for which we are exceedingly grateful.