[Report 1946] / Medical Officer of Health, Chelmsford R.D.C.

  • Chelmsford (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1946
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1946] / Medical Officer of Health, Chelmsford R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In 1907 an area of 831 acres, witli a population of 3,408, was transferred to the Borough of Chelmsford. As a Jesuit of the County Review in 1934, the following transfers took place. To the Rural District 6,433 acres were added. From the Rural District 2,888 acres were transferred to other authorities leaving a net gain of 3,545 acres to the District. Details of these latest changes are set out in the Report. The first real effort for dealing with public health matters dates back to 1872, when the Public Health Act of that year created Rural Sanitary Authorities, and the first meeting of the CheliTisford Rural Sanitary Authority took place on the 3rd September, 1872, at the Union House, Chelmsford. The first chairman appointed was Mr. James Christy Junior, subsequently known as Mr. James Christy. Mr. Christy was succeeded by Mr. Edward Corder in 1883, Mr. Corder remaining in office until the Chelmsford Rural District Council was formed in January, 1895, under the Local Government Act of 1894, when he was appointed its first chairman, and continued in office until 1899. Hi s successors were :—IMr. Richard James Algar, February, 1899 to April, 1902, Mr. George Henry Aubrey, April, 1902, to April, 1912, ]\Ir. Henry Grant Madon Conybeare, April, 1912 to May, 1928, Mr. Geoflrey Matthews, May, 1928 to April, 1937. The present chairman, Mr. Arthur George Falkner, was appointed in April, 1937. From 1872, until the present time, all meetings with the exception of two have been held during the daytime. The exceptions occurred in 1873, when the Authority of that day decided to hold its meetings at 6 p.m., but after one experience it was unanimously decided to revert to daytime meetings. The first Clerk to the Authority formed in 1872 was Mr. W. W. Duffield, who continued in office until 1907. His succes- sors were :—Mr. A. S. Duffield, 1907 to January, 1930, when the present Clerk, Mr. H. H. Gowers, was appointed with Mr. C. R. Plumtree as his Deputy. In 1873, Chelmsford Maldon and Billericay Rural Sanitary Authorities agreed to appoint a whole-time Medical Officer of Health to serve the three Districts. Dr. C. B. Fox was appointed and continued in office until Billericay, in 1879, withdrew from the combination. The appointment of a Medical Officer of Health was not made compulsory until the Public Health Act, 1875, was passed. In 1879, Chelmsford and Maldon Rural Sanitary Authorities appointed Dr. A. H. Downes as whole- time Officer to serve the two Districts. He continued in office