Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch, Parish of St. Leonard]
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from one to two hours, and he was glad to know that steps had been taken to see that wash
houses were really used by those most in need of them. (Cheers.)
Mr. Graham Wallas seconded the vote of thanks observing that their chairman was
an intensely practical man, and they were looking forward to the time when the baths would
be completed, and when on the top of the spring-board should be seen Mr. Wakeling's manly
form preparing to take the first plunge into the new bath. (Laughter and cheers.) He wished
to thank Mr. Wakeling personally and most heartily for the work he had done as honorary
judge and a member of the Committee of the London Schools Swimming Association. In one
thing the town boy was equal to the country boy, and that was in swimming. Shoreditch
already, with very small advantages, was leading London in that respect, and out of the swimming
trophies open to all London three were held by the Hoxton Schools Swimming p ssociation;
and the one trophy presented by Mr. Synge, H.M.I , open to all Hackney, was also held by
Hoxton. It was quite astonishing to see the skill, the force, the real delight with which the
boys of Hoxton had thrown themselves into swimming. Because he believed that not only
would this good work go forward, not only would the boys ot Hoxton and Haggerston show
the way to all London as they do now, and because he believed it possible to develop the
Association so that the girls would be equally successful—(hear, hear)—as the representative of
the educational interests of Shoreditch he thanked the Vestry with all his heart, and especially
Mr. Wakeling, for the care, thought and enthusiasm with which they were providing for the
physical education of the rising generation. (Cheers.)
The Chairman briefly replied, assuring the company that he was delighted to help the
schools. He meant to stick to this work and make the baths and washhouses a success—not the
largest in London, but the best. (Cheers.)
This concluded the formal part of the proceedings, and light refreshments having been
served in a satisfactory manner by Mr. Thos. Burnell and his staff, the larger part of the
company interested themselves for half an hour in personally inspecting the completed and the
progressing parts of the combined scheme.
[From The Hackney Express and Shoreditch Observer of 3rd July, 1897.]
LIGHT FEOM DUST.
OPENING OF THE SHOREDITCH DUST DESTRUCTOR AND ELECTRIC LIGHTING
STATION
BY LORD KELVIN.
In Jubilee weather and practically in Jubilee week the people of Shoreditch celebrated on
Monday last the completion of the sanitary and lighting scheme, which is so full of promise
to brighten and purify the parish, to invigorate its industries and prosper its commerce. The
fact that Lord Kelvin's master hand was to inaugurate the new light, and the uniquo character
of the undertaking brought together a distinguished scientific and municipal gathering and
stimulated a wide-spread interest in this bold effort in local self-government. The Electric