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1
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of
the Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch
Mr, Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I submit herewith the final Annual Report on the Health and sanitary
condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch in the form requested by
the Ministry of Health.
The various statistics were well within the averages of recent years,
except for the relentless spread of cancer (which presumably one must expect
in a population living to old age when cancer is more prevalent- and in a
population smoking cigarettes so heavily!). It is interesting to note that
only one person died of natural causes between the ages of 5 and 25 years, only
5 from tuberculosis (all but one over 55) and none in childbirth.
The Social Welfare Services for the elderly prospered as did the Holiday
Hotel at St, Leonard s on Sea and altogether it would appear that the Council
and its staff forestalled and prevented illness in every way open to them,
In fact during my 17 odd years with the Borough there has been no spread of
any serious disease although many threats occurred. In this connection I
am indebted to the general practitioners for calling me in early, with their
first suspected patient. Also though I know it is invidious to mention
names in view of the sterling work done by every member of the staff but I
feel bound to acknowledge the work of Mr Marshall (whose worth has been
acknowledged by the Council of the London Borough of Hackney who have
appointed him as their Chief Public Health Inspector) Mr. Earthrowl (who
continues as the Food Inspector for the whole of the new Borough), Mr Leigh
(who though classed merely as senior clerk helped me enormously in the
administration of the Department), Mr Christian (who kept a firm grip on the
I.D. situation) Mr Pope (who filled so many other clerical gaps). Mr.
Molyneux (who picked up the reins of administration very rapidly after his
appointment to the Social Welfare Section) and even young Robert Bradford
(who proved worthy of his Duke of Edinburgh's gold medal award) Others who
proved their capability and initiative were Mrs Pike and Miss Graver for
their work among the old people while outside the Borough itself the most
popular people were Mr and Mrs Stimpson at the Holiday Hotel. All these
people are worthy of even more senior posts and should do well by the citizens
of the new Borough I was also pleased to find that Mr. Bryant the official
Rodent Officer had been appointed to the same post in the new larger Borough
The amount of work done on the Offices Shops and Railway Premises Act before
I left was very gratifying and strongly indicates the value of Technical
Assistants as an aid to our sadly depleted staff of Public Health Inspectors
It is pleasing to know that the enlarged Public Health Department for the
new Borough will be in Shoreditch so that it is hoped that Shoreditch will go
from strength to strength in Health matters
Lastly Mr Mayor I would like to thank you and the Chairmen of my late
Committees for your help in the past as well as those other members who
assisted me in my work and to wish prosperity to all linked with the new
Borough
Yours faithfully
Wynforrs
Well End
Herts
B BROADBENT
ex-Medical Officer of Health Shoreditch
Shoreditch Town Hall
Old Street E.C.1
SHOreditch 7600.