Description: Some Activities of the Bermondsey Borough Council

Presented by Bermondsey Borough Council’s Health Propaganda Department, written and produced by Mr H W Bush, photography by Mr C F Lumley.

The film starts with exterior views of the borough’s flagship health centre at Spa Road, followed by the Gardens and Beautification Department. Fairby Grange, the council’s estate, is shown, then the borough’s Electricity Department and the distributing station at Neckinger. There is also a showroom displaying ‘modern’ electric lighting and other equipment.

The borough’s housing problem is seen, with back-to-back tenements, children playing outside, and decrepit, crumbling houses. The solution is to build workers’ cottages: very pleasing, low-rise, airy housing with large windows.

Over halfway into the film, the Public Health Department’s responsibilities are outlined and successes are highlighted: over 30 years, the death rate had been reduced by 38 per cent, from 21 people per 1000 to 13. This is attributed to tackling infectious diseases. Other initiatives include a disinfection station and a department dedicated to food hygiene and safety. The borough’s Maternity and Child Welfare Department has 12 centres, holding 84 health sessions a week. The clinics are well attended; a female doctor weighs and then performs a health check on a baby. There are also two dental clinics and a convalescent home for expectant and nursing mothers at Hartley in Kent. The borough pioneered artificial sunlight treatment; its solarium was the largest municipal light clinic in the country. The Tuberculosis Dispensary in Grange Road is seen, followed by the foot clinic. Lectures take place during the day in schools and in the evenings are presented at the back of a van. The lectures consist of illustrated ‘lantern’ (photographic) slides and a cinema screening. One of the famous ‘cinemotor’ vans, specially customised to project films, is seen.

Description from the Wellcome Collection