WVS/WRVS Bulletin/Magazine

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W.V.S. BULLETIN

S OME of the 1,000 food parcels given by the American Air Force base at Manston to RamsgateW .V.S. Centre for distributing to deserving people. In the photograph PRICE 3d. (left to right) are Miss Howell, Mr. Minter, Miss Burnett, Deputy C.O., Mrs. Kemp, C.O., and Mrs. Glesby. This was FEBRUARY, 1955 only one of many gifts from American personnela ll partsin N o. 182 of the country which W.V.S. were asked to distribute. Photograph by courtesy of Bernard Plane, Ramsgate.

W.V.S. Number 182 February, 1955 BULLETIN Annual Subscription 2s: 6d. (Incorporating The News Letter) (Official Journal of Women’s Voluntary Service for Civil Defence) 41 TOTHILL STREET, S.W.1 - - Telephone: Whitehall 7383

Patron : H.M. T h e Q u e e n President: H.M. Q u e e n E l iz a b e t h t h e Q u e e n M o t h e r Chairman : T h e D o w a g e r M a r c h io n e s s o f R e a d in g , G.B.E. Vice-Chairmen : T h e D o w a g e r L a d y H il l in g d o n , D.B.E., C o u n t e ss A l ex a n d e r o f T u n is , G.B.E. Chairman for Scotland : L a d y M a c C o l l IN THIS ISSUE No Lim it ...... 3 Newsletter: Alexis Soyer...... 10 From You to U s...... 4 From Here and There ...... 15 Flash of the Year...... 4 From the Centres...... 17 Your Ideas on Window Display ...... 4 Pictures Those Christmas Cards ...... 5 Food Parcels ...... Cover C.D. Canvassing...... 6 Southport W.V.S. “ At Home ” ...... 5 “ A Time to Sew ” ...... 7 Portslade Work Party...... 7 The Floods ...... 7 Soyer Boiler in 1854 ...... 10 Travels with a Trolley Shop...... 9 Soyer Boilers in 1954 ...... 11 At the Docks...... 9 Rugby Birthday Party...... 18 NO L IM IT “ AS I am no longer a member of reading the Bulletin with intense interest W.V.S. I presume I can no longer and admiration,” and, from a Columnist in enjoy the Bulletin ” wrote a subscriber a Canadian newspaper: “ One of the bright recently. “ May I have the Bulletin ?” monthly arrivals at my desk is your W.V.S. asked a W.V.S. member, who thought that Bulletin. I may always be certain of only Organisers and Administrators could finding an item or two to pass on to my subscribe. We were able to give direct readers.” So, you see, it is worth while answers in these two cases, but we wonder making this small magazine widely known, if other people who would like to have the even worth paying the modest yearly Bulletin think that it is restricted to active subscription to ensure that a friend in W.V.S. or even to only some of them. another country or here at home is kept That, of course, is not the case. Everyone in touch month by month with the work who is interested in what the Service does in which you are taking part. is welcome to read, and we hope enjoy, the Bulletin. The Editor The letter from a former W.V.S. worker As we go to press (on the day following on page 4 shows that she has the right the disaster in which the York to Bristol idea—of getting the younger generation train was derailed) we learn that W.V.S. interested in our activities. And we have were working throughout last night in plenty of evidence that the Bulletin is two waiting rooms at Sutton Coldfield appreciated overseas too. Here are station providing meals for rescue workers. extracts from two letters that have reached They had set up Soyer boilers borrowed us lately : “ You may like to know that a from the Food Flying Squad and were friend of mine in New Zealand has been using a mobile canteen to fetch supplies. 3 From You to Us This Month’s Good Idea other W.V.S. Centre where both the “ O NE of our members who helps with Organiser and her Deputy are County our Trolley shop service at St. Magistrates, or if we are unique in this Mark’s Hospital, Maidenhead, was very respect ?” Ethel B. M. Moore, C.O. curious to know what an old lady of ninety Eastleigh, Hants. did with the quantities of large safety pins which she asked for practically each time the ‘ shop ’ came round. On en Flash of the Year quiry our member was told by the old lady that as she spent so much of her time CONGRATULATIONS to Padding- making fancy articles, she stitched a ton Borough, whose Flash for Novem safety pin to each piece of material on which ber 1954 was considered by impartial she was working ; then when any piece judges (including Lady Reading) to be slipped off her bed she used a large magnet the best of the year. For the benefit of which attracted the safety pin and drew it new readers we repeat it here : with the material attached up from the “ A member visiting the doctor’s floor, and so she need not worry the nurses surgery was in uniform. While in the to come and retrieve the fallen article.” waiting room a harrassed G.P. looked in, M. Pitcher, Maidenhead. saw the W.V.S. member and asked, ‘ Can you cope with looking out files ?’ A Word of Encouragement An hour later she entered the surgery. ‘ Gosh,’ said the doctor, ‘ I apologise, “ W HAT a grand idea it was to have but I was hours behind and am only a those little gift cards enclosed in locum. In the hospital I’ve just left we the Bulletins before Christmas. Thank had two W.V.S. who did cope, and so you for them. have you! Do you want a regular job ?’ ” I am an old W.V.S., rather crippled The runners up were Bristol County with arthritis, but still on the look out how Borough (December issue) and Cornwall to be helpful. Had my eye on a couple of County (October issue). young ladies who would make good troopers, so sent them each a gift issue. I had a letter from one of them who is a reporter on the local newspaper saying Your Ideas on how she appreciated the copies already received. Window Display May I say in all humility that there is NLY seven between you! Best not a place even for ‘ also rans,’ by giving a O work that out to a decimal point to word of encouragement to young members show what is the average fraction of an and a word of praise for a job well done, idea per W.V.S. member. Better to also the smoothing out of ruffled tempers. remember how extremely busy each If after being active one can take a back W.V.S. is—and to thank the seven who seat and do these minor offices, there is managed to squeeze in (or out) that one still that lovely feeling of happiness in the more job of responding to an appeal to job.” “ C lem .” pool brainwaves for the good of the whole service. Two of the seven suggestions may Two Magistrates in one Centre have been tried out in the Tothill Street “ M y Deputy here, Mrs. E. K. M. window by the time this Bulletin is in Laurie, was appointed a County print. The others, with the exception of Magistrate last week, and as I myself one that lacks originality, we hope to adapt. have now been one since January 1953, we Names of senders and further details will should rather like to know if there is any be published later. 4 Those Christmas Cards

TH E Post Office, we are told, handled over 704,000,000 letters and cards in transit this last Christinas. No wonder then that many of the recipients, loth to throw away the often beautiful or amusing tokens of goodwill, seek some further use for them. W.V.S. Centres know only too well how eagerly the public acted on advice given them in the press! Here, however, is a way in which the cards can be put to very good use—by taking part in a W.V.S. Scrap Book Competition. A prize of£5 and three consolation prizeson a label stuck firmly to the page. of £ 1 each are offered for the best 8. No Scrap Book will be returned to Scrap Book for use by children in hospitals, the senders, but all will be retained by homes, clinics, etc. W.V.S. and distributed to hospitals, Miss Noel Streatfield (an ex-W.V.S.), the institutions, homes, etc., for children. well-known writer of children’s books, and 9. No acknowledgement of entries will Lady Hillingdon, Vice-Chairman, W.V.S., be made and no correspondence will be will be two of the three judges who will entered into in connection with the Com select the winning entry and will take into petition. consideration in making their decision :— Some Centres may be able to get from 1. Imaginative treatment; their local hospitals the black paper in 2. Suitability for the amusement of which X-ray plates are wrapped and which children ; would make ideal pages for mounting the 3. Presentation ; cards on. Stationers may be willing to 4. Ingenuity in the use of materials for hand over the books in which sample the book itself. cards have been stuck. Or you may have a Conditions of Entry still better and more original idea yourself. Be sure to make this competition known 1. The Competition is open to anyone as widely as possible. resident in England, Scotland and Wales. 2. Entries should be sent during the first week of May addressed to W.V.S. Scrap Book Competition, 41 Tothill Street, London, S.W.l. 3. The Scrap Books should be no larger than 11 inches by 13 inches or smaller than 10 inches by 12 inches. 4. Any kind of strong paper or other suitable material may be used for the pages, which should number not more than 30 and not less than 20. 5. The cover may be made of any mater ial, but it should be borne in mind that the Scrap Book will be used by children and therefore should not be too heavy. 6. Christmas cards, birthday cards, cuttings from books and magazines may all be included. Southport W.V.S. “ At Home ” in their 7. The name and address of the maker new offices. The Mayor of Southport, of the Scrap Book should be written in Alderman Mrs. E. Smith, J.P ., signing the block letters in the bottom right hand corner Day Book, flanked by Lady Hamilton, of the last page. Where dark paper is used North West Region Administrator, and the name and address should be written Mrs. M. E. Halsall, C.B.O. Southport. By courtesy of theSouthport Guardian. 5 ‘ Here you are, Mrs. K.; you start with these.” To my horror I saw the numbers C.D. Canvassing were of houses in the road we were about to canvass. “ But . . . but... I understood HEN someone passed me a circular . . I mean . . .” But of course I was W from Headquarters about canvassing wrong; we weren’t going round in a for Civil Defence, something should have group and I wouldn’t be standing behind warned me! But I dutifully went on the men while they talked. I was, in fact, reading and learned that H.Q. hoped that going to my appointed numbers by myself. where W.V.S. were asked to help the Local A batch of leaflets was thrust at me. Authority with street canvassing for Civil I was so terrified I could have turned Defence they would make every effort to round and run away. Instead, without do so. We had already been asked by the warning, my legs shot from under me and I L.A. sat down with a smack on the ice. A By the time I passed the circular back friendly warden, Mr. L., gathered up my I had a horrid feeling that “ They ” would leaflets, and suggested, most kindly, that we think it should be me. “ They ” did. might do the first few houses together until The Centre Organiser said it would be I got the hang of it. awfully good for me ; it would help me to The Results overcome my shyness—take me out of myself, etc .... She reached for the phone. We approached our first house and as She told the Civil Defence Officer that we walked up the garden path Mr. L. I would report for canvassing duty at remarked conversationally that he had 6.30 p.m. on Friday the thirteenth! twice been bitten by a dog when canvassing. However, the door was opened by an The Assignment elderly lady who did not appear to keep any It must have been some time on the ferocious animals, but neither had she any Thursday evening that it really began to desire to join Civil Defence. We had no snow in earnest. By Friday evening it was luck at the next house either and I felt more freezing as well. My enthusiasm was tongue-tied and shy than I’d ever felt in quite a way below freezing point when at my life. At each door Mr. L. explained 6.30 p.m. I made my reluctant way towards our mission—but not a word from m e! the Fire Station. I had been told that we The next three or four houses were also canvassers would be taken by the fire fruitless, but somehow I was beginning to tender to the road selected for that particu lose my shyness and was learning from Mr. lar evening’s attention. The residents L.’s technique; I even began to join in a would have had a circular from the Local little. I felt more confident—after all we Authority saying that we would be calling still hadn’t actually been bitten by a dog, on them to talk about Civil Defence some or a householder for that matter. In fact, time in the near future, the idea being that people were extraordinarily nice and members from each section of the C.D. usually expressed regret at being unable to Corps would be prepared to answer join. Most of those who didn’t enrol had questions and, wherever possible, they genuine reasons for not being able to do so. would get the householders to sign enrol It was a road where many elderly, retired ment forms. people lived. I found I was the only Welfare Section We had reached almost our last house. representative, and in fact the only woman And then it happened. I got my first recruit in the group. I comforted myself with all by myself, without Mr. L. saying one the thought that I’d be quite all right : word. I was so surprised I could scarcely I’d stand behind the men and let them do help her fill in her form. But there it was— all the talking, and just be ready to answer Mrs. C. firmly enrolled in the Ambulance any questions about Welfare that they Section, and I had actually talked her into might be asked. But it wasn’tlike that! it. I was on top of the world, and as we When we had alighted from the tender drove back in the fire tender I realised that the C.D.O. handed round cards with num I had enjoyed every minute of that three- bers on them. He gave one to me and said, hour canvassing duty.—C.K. 6 ‘‘ A Time to Sew W.V.S. Work Party Competition EAFLETS containing entry forms L for the W.V.S. Work Party Competi tion are available in all W.V.S. Centres. The main conditions of entry were given in our December issue, but groups of people working at home on “ materials ” drawn from W.V.S. secondhand stocks may like to know that they are eligible to compete for the challenge cup and silver thimbles. The choice of garments to be entered should be selected from the following: overcoats for under-fours; shorts for boys from six upwards ; boys’ jackets ; dresses for girls from four to seven; underwear of all sizes; shorts for under-fours; The winning team and prize in the County of windcheaters; buster suits; pinafore East Sussex competition. The team consists dresses ; and nightwear of all sizes. of W.V.S. and some Joans. Although Entries, with completed entry forms, clothing quarters are cramped in the Portslade should be posted to arrive at W.V.S. Centre, members keep the garments in Headquarters between March 31st and excellent order. April 4th—neither sooner nor later. By courtesy of theSussex Daily News. Pride in the Depot THER competitions have been held to have the best standard both for general O locally in connection with clothing. neatness, keeping records and Make-do- One such was the County of East Sussex and-Mend. Three of the Make-do-and- competition in which the prize of a Mend garments were so outstanding that lovely workbox, filled with useful things the Headquarters Travelling Clothing for their hospital work party, was awarded Officer who judged the competition to the best all-round depot. Portslade was borrowed them for the National Exhibit the winner. This Centre was considered to show to other Regions. T he Floods HE winter floods have made extra system was put out of action. A temporary T work for W.V.S. in many parts of the office was established at the home of one country. On one of the worst nights in of the members. “ Mop and bucket ” Wales a police call came to Neath W.V.S. parties helped to scrub them out, and the for Wellington boots. Among the people W.V.S. van assisted in the delivery of subsequently visited by W.V.S. was the coconut matting sent from London by the young mother of a first baby born in a British Red Cross Society. barricaded ground floor room at the height Further south, in Wokingham Rural of the flood. The nurse had been pick-a- North, a new village representative was backed to the house. W.V.S. saw that all appointed for Twyford. The next evening was well after. a mother and three children were rescued In the Lake District Kendal had the from an old caravan in four feet of flood worst flooding since 1898. During the first water. The village Representative and hours of December 2nd the W.V.S. County her “ Vice ” opened up the Twyford Office was out of use owing to the surge of Chapel Hall at 11 p.m., got hot milk ready water in Stramongate and the C.O. was for the children and cared for the family completely marooned at her home not until they were able to return home four only by water but because the telephone days later. 7 8 Travels with a Trolley Shop

RAVEL may sound odd in conjunction pleasure, for sometimes we find friends not T with a hospital trolley shop, but those there, but we hope it means their recovery who manoeuvre our trolley at a particular and re-union with family and home. hospital will agree that is the only word for it. The journey by van, lift, or sheer At the Docks mountaineering on foot with the help of L IVERPOOL W.V.S. are fortunate in a kindly porter, leaves no doubt as to its having the opportunity to help at authenticity, or the trolley’s similarity the Docks with the embarkation and dis to the original ending of the title. embarkation of passengers for Troopers Still, however mulish its back wheels can and Canadian Pacific Liners. become, it plays its part sturdily in all Embarkation and Disembarkation of circumstances. In addition, the noise it Troopers.—Movement Control keep in can make in certain corridors is valuable touch with us, sending programmes of in warning the patients of our approach, troop ships in and out of the Port of thereby saving time by them having Liverpool. At a preliminary conference it their money ready. We were joyfully is decided how many W.V.S. will be needed, greeted on one occasion with “ Oh good, depending on the number of families, and here’s the trolley shop,” so we venture to particularly of very young children, in hope that the noise is not too bad. Serious transit. At disembarkations, which are ly, it is a rewarding task, and a privilege, always in the early hours of the morning, to be allowed to bring a little of the outside we go on board ready to help the families world to those confined to hospital; down the gangways and into the Customs whether they are the sick, or the bright and Shed. Then we take charge of the helpful staff who with every courtesy children until the interview with the Cus make us feel welcome. toms Officer is over. The W.V.S. van The patients love to have a chat and the is very popular at this stage because two opportunity to buy something for those at members serve tea—with fresh cow’s home. The anticipation in awaiting the milk—to the mothers and children. happy surprise their relatives and friends C.P.R. Ships.—We were approached by receive on being given these unexpected the C.P.R. Company to see if we could help gifts is, I am sure, a tonic to the patients. with the embarkation of passengers A man’s wife has a birthday coming, a travelling to Canada from Princes Parade, mother can send sweets to the children, Liverpool. Again working on a rota the things they thought would have to system, three W.V.S. are on duty at each wait until they were well again are brought sailing. Initially our job is to help mothers to them on the trolley shop. The nurses with small families travelling unaccom too are not forgotten. A patient shows panied (usually going to join husbands who appreciation by asking a nurse to choose have already emigrated), but in addition something for herself: “ She has been so we help C.P.R. officials to check passports, good,” they say. ocean contracts and any medical papers So the shop-on-wheels is not just some necessary. thing being pushed round to sell things ; Although this work is quite arduous, it is a means by which we learn to under we always feel we have done a very worth stand the needs of others in many ways. while and interesting job of work.— Lydia There are frantic moments when one is L. R. Flinn, Transport Officer, Liverpool. asked for the unusual, and the empties are forgotten in the reckoning up, but the Books for Weather Ships thought of the dainty tea waiting in the The library section of Southport W.V.S. canteen, served with such kindness, keep three ocean going weather ships— fortifies us. the Recorder, Observer and Explorer—and Thus ends another day of travel and we three lightships supplied with magazines look forward to the next. A mixed and books. 9 NEWSLETTER No. 194 Alexis Soyer HO would dream of connecting Soyer boilers with the Albert Hall? Yet Alexis W Soyer, whose name is on our lips every time we set up an emergency canteen, was, a century ago, proprietor of an elaborate restaurant in Gore House, just across the road from the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, where the Albert Hall now stands. He combined culinary genius with good showmanship, and his idea was to provide a place where visitors to the Great Exhibition of 1851 could enjoy the best food and drink in lavish surroundings. His restaurant became the most talked of place in London, filled night and day with visitors who found in it attractions second only to the Exhibition itself. Who was Soyer ? What was he ? Briefly, he was a pioneer in emergency feeding, a pioneer dietitian, inventor, exhibitionist, and public benefactor ; one of the most fascinat ing personalities in the history of cooking, a field which he entered purely by chance. He was born in 1809 in a small town near Paris. His parents wanted him to enter the Church, and at nine years of age sent him to the Cathedral School. But little Alexis did not want to be a chorister, and managed to get himself expelled by ringing the church bell (which was also the local fire alarm) at midnight. At the age of twelve he was sent to stay with his elder brother, who was a cook in Paris. He was apprenticed first to a cook near Versailles, and later was employed by a well-known Paris caterer. The Revolution caused him to leave France and join his cousin in the kitchen of the Duke of Cambridge in London. England was his home for the rest of his life. He had many aristocratic employers, and only gave up private service on his appointment as chef at the Reform Club, where he soon showed the skill which was to make him and his novel steam kitchens the talk of London and the European capitals, and cause him to be immortalised as M. Mirabolant in Thackeray’s Pendennis. A pencil sketch in The Illustrated London News of August 11th, 1858, shows him as a handsome Frenchman with a small beard, wearing a large velvet beret and a flowing tie with his velvet coat. The banquets he provided at the Reform Club and the dinners he created were outstanding even in those days of extravagant feeding. He had the rare gift of being equally interested in the Title Page of Soyer's Culinary Campaign preparation of magnificent ban quets and in devising simple 1854 : The Soyer Boiler and its inventor. nutritious meals. 10 Catering Genius In 1847 he turned his attention to the famine in Ireland. Those were the “ Hungry Forties ” when, owing to the failure of the potato crop, three million people were on relief. Alexis Soyer informed the Government that he could prepare a soup at a cost of £1 for 100 gallons. He received authority to proceed to Ireland, and on the Royal Barracks Esplanade, Dublin, he erected kitchens from which he issued rations of soup to 8,000 people daily, using for this purpose what we now know as the Soyer boiler. His recipe, which could well be used as a basic recipe in emergency feeding today was : 2 gallons of water, 4 oz. of shin of beef, 2 oz. of dripping, 8 oz. of flour, 1/2 oz. of brown sugar, a few onions and turnip parings and salt to taste. While in Ireland he published a sixpenny booklet, Charitable Cookery, or The Poor Man’s Regenerator, and gave the pro ceeds to charity. On his return to England the Royal Agricultural Society asked him to write articles on pro visions for use in famine, giving substitutes for potatoes, and hints for making nourishing soup on a large scale. This must be the first recorded occasion when the need to have emergency feeding plans cut and dried was realised, and possibly the first 1954 : Soyer Boilers and some of the Cambridge time that “ meals-on-wheels ” W .V .S. Food Flying Squad preparing tea were thought of was when the at an emergency feeding exercise. Society suggested to M. Soyer By courtesy of the Ministry of Food. that, instead of setting up soup kitchens, he might give consideration to a plan for having the soup prepared in large country houses and distributed weekly to cottage families. Soyer set up a soup kitchen in Leicester Square, where for five years soup and bread were constantly supplied to the poor, and, though the soup was for years Punch’s staple jest, on one occasion Prince Albert paid a visit and tasted it. In 1853 Soyer designed the City Soup Kitchen in Farringdon Street which was opened by the Lord Mayor and served eight to ten thousand people every day. Soyer was asked to report on the question of preserving meat for sailors at sea, which he did at considerable length in The Lancet. Meanwhile he had found time to write many books. His best known are Culinary Relaxations, The Gastronomic Regenerator (of which 2,000 were sold at a guinea each), The Modern Housewife, The History of Food, and a Shilling Cookery Book for the People, 123,000 copies of which were sold. His innumerable inventions for the kitchen included a cooking clock, a coffee pot, an egg cooker and a vegetable drainer. His tendon separators, which resembled garden secateurs, were a boon to carvers, as birds could be jointed before cooking or at the table. He also invented a baking-stewing pan, capable of cooking a cheap meal for fifteen 11 people “ no matter how hard the meat, or tea hot for fifty men. poor the quality.” From illustrations one A Times correspondent described him as gathers that the pan resembled the contain “ the camp cook par excellence,” noted the ers which are used in meals-on-wheels to huge row of boilers supplying soups and convey the food from the kitchen to the stews concocted entirely from the rations bedside. But of all his inventions, issued daily to the troops, and announced M. Soyer was most proud of his magic “ He will render excellent service if he spirit stove, which was widely praised as a teaches the soldier how to make the most of table cooker, equally useful in the sickthe materials supplied to him, which room and in the open air. It was tested in hitherto have unquestionably been wasted a railway carriage, used on an Arctic through ignorance.” Punch parodied expedition, and it was even suggested that The Minstrel Boy in his honour : this tiny stove could be carried in a The Cordon Bleu to the war has gone . . . gentleman’s tall hat. Bachelors and His snow-white apron he has girded on, tourists welcomed it, and smart hostesses And his magic stove behind him. engaged M. Soyer to attend their balls, His campaign was uphill work. He had and cook on it at the supper table delicious to overcome prejudice, jealousy, red tape, dishes before the admiring eyes of the and the opposition of die hards. guests. But such fashionable occasions Exhausted by his labours in the field, were soon to be things of Soyer’s past. Soyer became seriously ill, and when On January 16th, 1855, a letter from a convalescent was ordered home, but serving soldier appeared in The Times refused to go till all the boilers he had beseeching M. Soyer to advise the men ordered for the different regiments had at the Crimean war front how to use their been distributed. It has been proved rations to the best advantage. He replied, that they were safe and used only one- giving a few simple recipes, and, with fourth the amount of fuel used for the other his interest thoroughly aroused, began to types then available. Everywhere they read with great attention all subsequent were highly praised and it was decided to dispatches from the war zone. The adopt them for the entire army, at home following month he offered to proceed to and abroad, in peace and war. The Eastern Europe at his own expense to Soyer boiler is still one of the most essential advise on cooking for the army in the field, articles of camp equipment, and is funda and Her Majesty’s Government accepted mentally the same today as when Soyer his offer. In manner and appearance he designed it. He went round the regiments may have been a comic opera Frenchman, giving cookery lessons, and leaving printed but Florence Nightingale, for whom he had directions and recipes. When the war was a great admiration, recognised his organis over, and a V.I.P. came out to distribute ing ability, and became his friend. decorations, the stoves were demonstrated “ Others,” she wrote, “ have studied for his benefit. Two soldiers, unassisted, cookery for the purpose of gourmandising, cooked a very satisfactory meal for the and some for show, but none but he for inspecting general and six hundred men, the purpose of cooking large quantities of so well had Soyer taught them. food in the most nutritive and economical He returned to England, but the effects manner for large numbers of people.” of his Crimean fever could not be shaken He began by revising the dietaries of the off; he was never really well, but he went hospitals at Scutari and Constantinople. on with his writing. His books are out of In two visits to Balaclava, in conjunction print, and odd copies are therefore worth with Florence Nightingale, and the medical hunting for; one may still read with staff, he re-organised the feeding in the delight his Culinary Campaign, Being hospitals, in addition to cooking for the Historical Reminiscences of the Late War, Fourth Division of the Army. He insisted with the Plain Art of Cookery for Military on having permanently allocated to the and Civil Institutions, the Army, Navy, kitchens soldiers who could be trained as the Public, etc.” cooks. He invented ovens to bake bread He was in great demand as a lecturer at and biscuits, and a teapot (forerunner of the United Services Institute, and as an our Multipot urns) which made and kept adviser on military dietetics, and was 12 selected as a member of a Government Commission will now take up the matter Committee appointed to choose a cooking for itself.” It is not only in our Emergency wagon for an army on the march. He Feeding training that we should remember produced a design of his own which was this versatile man, but also in our First adopted. Aid, for after his own rescue from drowning When the London Barracks were being after falling through the ice in St. James’s overhauled, the “ woman’s touch ” came Park, he sent a subscription to the Royal into play, and Florence Nightingale, whose Humane Society, and a sketch of a device advice had been sought, called into counsel he had invented for the rescuing of drown her old friend and colleague, M. Soyer, ing persons, and at a dinner he led a parade and together they took the improvements of people who had been rescued, and made to the kitchens in hand. Soyer erected a a speech expressing thanks to the Society model kitchen at Wellington Barracks, on behalf of them all. and demonstrated how a wonderful meal Helen Morris, in her eminently readable could be produced from the rations of 300 Portrait of a Chef, published in 1938, gives men. He was then invited to repeat his a clever little word-picture of this remark success and cook a meal for a whole able man. She says, “ He figured more Guards Battalion, but before he could carry often in the pages of Punch than many a out this feat he was taken ill and died Cabinet Minister ; he wrote poems and within a week of his triumph at the age of cookery books and a ballet and letters to forty-eight. Florence Nightingale wrote The Times ; he created dishes which cost a to Captain Douglas Galton, who later was hundred guineas and soup at three farthings to be a member of the first Committee a quart; he organised banquets for celeb appointed to consider soldiers’ amenities : rities, and a dinner one Christmas Day for “ His death is a great disaster. My only 20,000 of the poorest of London’s poor. comfort is that you were early imbued with He cooked dinners worthy of Lucullus, his doctrines, and that the Barracks ( Continued on page 19)

13 14 by public transport)"she could not continue, and her absence is much regretted. From Hey Presto! ULL W.V.S. had to think and act Here and There H quickly to prevent Christmas Day being utterly spoilt for one family. Mother, Thanks from Abu-Sultan Father and four-year-old David were upstairs emptying David’s Christmas URHAM CITY W.V.S. were asked by stocking, when they heard a crackling D the Mayors of the County to admini noise below. Father went to investigate ster the fund which they had raised for and found the living room ablaze. Toys, Christmas parcels for men in the Middle chicken, plum pudding, cake, pork pies and Far East whose homes are in County and all the other good things were spolied Durham. W.V.S. agreed and were occu by fire or smoke. The police got in touch pied for some time organising and dispatch with W.V.S. who provided a complete ing the parcels. Writing to acknowledge Christmas dinner and tea and more toys receipt of the “ wonderful and very for David. They were not the only ones welcome gift,” a corporal in the Police determined that as much as could be should Dog Section of the R.A.F. station at Abu- be put right without loss of time. The Sultan said : “ Thank you is not enough police brought sawn lengths of timber so in return for the marvellous work your that the father could carry out emergency service does for the troops out here, at repairs to the living room floor, North the leave camps and in the different units. Eastern Gas Board men turned out to see But, well—thank you and God bless you to the gas supply, and neighbours brought all.” more toys and food. By noon all was set —And from Fleetwood fair once more for a traditional Christmas ERE is another tribute from the celebration. H Forces—in this case from a young bulldozer operator who remarked to a civilian driver of a truck : “ The W.V.S. were smashing. It was just like they were our own mothers.” The occasion was “ Operation Fleetwood,” when W.V.S. helped the Army units who were coping with the floods. Occupational Therapy ENT County W.V.S. run an occu K pational therapy class for epileptic women at Herne Hospital. Attendance is voluntary, and on the whole the patients show great interest in the crafts taught. Once they have learnt one kind of craft they are rather loth to try another and have to be persuaded to venture into fresh fields. Quite apart from what they are taught, the contact with someone from the outside world is beneficial to these patients, who, perforce, lead a very narrow life. Two classes a week are taken by two different workers. Until recently a third worker attended both classes and kept a link between the two. Owing to lack of trans port (she is an invalid and cannot travel 15 16 COULSDON AND PURLEY U.D. Our Meals-on-Wheels leader, when taking From the Centres dinners to an old couple, was warned about a mongrel dog who really was all bark and no bite. Having knocked without receiving ALTRINGHAM B. A member was an answer, from the back of the house came collecting clothes from a lady who was the dog who made it plain from his actions leaving the district suddenly, to go to the that she was to follow him. She did, and Preston area, and had nowhere to live. the old man said they had trained the dog She was able to put her in touch with a so that they need not open the front door! friend moving from Preston, so that the CHEADLE R.D. We were delighted first lady moved into the empty flat— to receive a shield and grateful letter from thanks to W.V.S. the North Staffordshire Regiment in BEVERLEY B. We were asked by a Korea, as an appreciation for newspapers, London hospital to befriend a former magazines and comforts received from the patient, now living here, who is bedridden. Centre. Members visit him regularly. One, who DONCASTER C.B. A man whom we had a film projector, took it along and helped with clothing saw how difficult we gave him a show. He was so pleased that found it to supply wrapping paper, so he we decided, if possible, to give him a made a tour of the shops and the trades television set. Eventually we were able people delivered a large amount of brown to do this, and he was overwhelmed with paper and boxes to us. emotion. FLEETWOOD B. We were asked by BEBINGTON B. We were much the Church Army Officer in charge of the heartened when we received a delightful Fleetwood Youth Club if we could provide letter from an old lady to whom we had someone to attend the showing of a film on given a beautifully knitted blanket. “ It Personal Hygiene to girls aged 15 to 17, is just perfect,” she wrote, “ The knitting prepared to answer questions and give any and the colours are wonderful. I do thank help, as he did not want anyone in an you and all W .V.S. for such a beautiful gift. “ official ” capacity. One of our members May God bless you all in your great and who has had considerable experience with noble work.” girls and is most human and approachable, BROADSTAIRS U.D. The Old Age agreed to undertake the job. Pensioners’ Association have suggested GIPPING R.D. Seen in Halifax, that an offer should be made to the Canada, in the main gardens, written in U.S.A.F. of a visit to their camp of the flowers : “ Join Civil Defence.” Choir to sing an appreciation of the gift HAMMERSMITH M.B. A member parcels of food given for the New Year. received an unusual request for help from CARDIFF C.B. A golden wedding an ex-serviceman with both legs amputated anniversary was celebrated in the men’s who had lost his wife and was distressed ward of St. David’s Hospital, the wife being brought by ambulance from another hospital. There was a lovely iced cake, and sister, with the help of the W.V.S. trolley shop, produced a surprise wedding breakfast for 25 relatives who had special permission to attend. CARLISLE C.B. Our oldest member, aged 93, knitted squares and sewed them together, making two beautiful blankets, which were given away at her request— one to a paralysed man whose legs are always cold, and the other to a bedridden woman. 17 that her grave was neglected. She selected drinks to all who were repairing flood a plain kerb, arranged for it to be erected, damage. We stood by for several nights to and awaits a photograph to send to the open a Rest Centre should there be worse husband from whom she has received a flooding. This tested the efficiency of our letter of deep appreciation. call-out system and most members asked HORNSEA U.D. The Emergency for refresher Rest Centre training. Feeding Team cooked a meal for 50 which ROCHDALE C.B. The new scheme the Darbies and Joans thoroughly enjoyed. for relieving staff at a Home for maladjusted They had stew, sprouts, peas, cauliflower Children is proving most valuable and and potatoes, steamed jam pudding and members enjoy their spells of duty. Help custard. The Chairman of the Town is very badly needed owing to shortage of Council called in to watch the proceedings. staff. Two members attend each night LEWISHAM M.B. Hearing of a small for two hours while the younger children privately run orphanage for seventeen are put to bed and the staff has a breathing children near the Sydenham Darby and space. Joan Club, the old people volunteered to help the children in some way. They now RUGBY M.B. The work party recently collect to buy Christmas and birthday celebrated its second birthday. In the last presents for each child, are hoping that year the eight members have made 2,213 some of the older children may visit them, garments for local hospitals and are justifi- and that little groups can be formed to see that each child is all right throughout the year. They also knit gloves and scarves for the children. NANTWICH R.D. A two-day dust bin cooking effort was most successful. The group built the brick oven on the first day and on the second cooked the following menu :—Lamb chops, steak and kidney pie, cabbage, cauliflower and potatoes, followed by steamed syrup sponge, jam tart and custard. PLYMPTON R.D. (NORTH). W hen the worst floods within memory hit Plymp ton we were asked to provide hot meals, at half an hour’s notice, for victims and Rugby W .V .S . hospital work party celebrat firemen who were “ pumping out,” for ing its second birthday which all were most grateful. We issued By courtesy of the Midland Newspapers Ltd., clothing and blankets. Later, we took hot Leicester.

18 ably proud of their achievement. The party was attended by the Matrons of Rugby’s W.V.S. Golfing Society three hospitals, the Chairman of the The Spring Meeting of the W.V.S. Management Committee, and others. Golfing Society will be held at SHOREHAM-BY-SEA U.D. At Swinley Forest Golf Club, Ascot, 3 a.m. on the morning of the great gale, on June 21st, 1955. W.V.S. were called out by the police to help a mother and four children thrown in Alexis Soyer— (continued) the water from a houseboat overturned by the storm. In a very short time dry, warm and exhausted his health in the Crimea clothing was provided and on the following turning salt pork into palatable food; morning the whole family was outfitted he could produce with equal promptness with a complete new set of clothes. grandiose schemes and practical plans. Gay, witty, vain, eccentric, brilliant WEMBLEY B. (KINGSBURY SUB inventor, magnificent organiser, kindest of CENTRE) We were contacted by friends, generous and loyal . . .”—that was The Star and helped one of their corres Alexis Soyer, worthy of lasting remem pondents. They have congratulated us brance. Let us make a pilgrimage to his on the splendid work done by the W.V.S. grave at Kensal Green on the centenary and tell us that they are most impressed of his death, August 5th, 1958. by it. A. M. A. FRASER ST. MARYLEBONE M.B. Just CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS before Christmas the Meals-on-Wheels Rates. 10s. for a minimum of three leader brought a note to the Centre Organ lines, 2s. 6d. per line thereafter for W.V.S. iser saying, “ Mother asked me to give you members. Special rates only for W.V.S. this.” Instead of a Christmas card “ this ” members who are Bulletin Subscribers. was a cheque for £10 and a note saying Commercial Rates on application. that it was to be used to give something WARMTH & MODERN COMFORTS. extra to some of the old people. After a Sunny days and restful nights. Good food pause to recover her breath, the Centre and plenty of it. 5 gns to 7 gns per week. Organiser went round to enlist the help Four meals daily and early tea. ’Phone Hast of a war time member who, with her hus ings 3191. MORNINGSIDE, Tower Road band, owns a small dairy. It was decided West, St. Leonards-on-Sea for VALUE. that the cheque should be translated into TRAVEL. Miss Barbara McKechnie 47 parcels of food. These, in gaily decor F.R.G.S. Personally conducts “VALUE ated bags given by a friendly stationer, were FOR MONEY TOURS” for members, rushed round to the Centre the next husbands, friends, visits to:—Paris, Italian morning in time to go on the van with the Dolomites & Venice, Austria, Lake Con Mayor’s Christmas dinners. stances Bavaria, Brittany, Pyrenees& Spain, WEYMOUTH B. A very young Switzerland, Salzkammergut & Vienna. National Service boy brought in three pairs For dates and details send large stamped of socks which needed to be washed and envelope stating preference: 64 CHELSEA darned. When he called for them he said, GARDENS, LONDON, S.W.l. “ I do think it is kind of you old ladies to For Sale. Singer Electric Sewing do these jobs for us boys.” Complete Machine. Perfect working condition £10. collapse of Centre Organiser who rather View Kensington. Box 199. hoped she did not look as old as she is. C o r r e c t io n :—See Flashes for November WORTHING B. One of our many jobs (Stoke-on-Trent C. B.) and January (Barnet was to find a new home for a pet female U.D.). Burton-on-Trent C.B., not Stoke- mouse. We are pleased to report that after on-Trent C.B., picked and canned 206 a very happy day spent in our office she has pounds of plums. Corporal W. Kane visited now settled down in the new home we Friern Barnet U.D. not Barnet U.D. We found for her with a little boy. apologise for both these errors. 19 Issued by Women’s Voluntary Service, 41 Tothill Street, London, S.W.l Printed by The Riverside Press Ltd., Twickenham, Middx.