Authors: Emma M. Jones
CHAPTER SIX
Blitz on the Board 1937–1945
1
. Interview with George Billingham and Arthur Durling, water engineers with the Metropolitan Water Board 1939–45, recorded by Capital Radio, Catalogue number 5370, Reel 2: Imperial War Museum, London.
2
. Ibid.
3
.
Air Raid Precautions for the Protection of the Board’s
Undertaking
, Commander G.E. Blackwell, 31st December 1937, ACC/2558/MW/C/05/001 p. 1.
4
. Ibid. p. 21.
5
. London Government Act 1963, Chapter 33, Part V, 35, Clause 1, Sewerage and Trade Effluents.
6
.
Chief Engineer’s report on the protection of the Board’s under-
taking
, Metropolitan Water Board, 1938, ACC/2558/MW/ C/05/002: London Metropolitan Archives.
7
. Ibid.
8
. Ibid.
9
. Untitled document within
Air Raid Precautions and Flood
Emergency 1940–9
with introductory page statement: ‘The following information indicates the steps taken by the Metropolitan Water Board to safeguard their Undertaking against the effects of air raid damage and to ensure as far as practicable a continuous supply of water for domestic, trade and fire fighting purposes.’, August 1941, Metropolitan Water Board, ACC/2558/MW/C/05/005: London Metro- politan Archives, p. 6.
10
. Copy of the Metropolitan Water Board document, dated 30
th
June 1939, contained in the Papers of Mrs V.J. Staunton, 92/25/1: Imperial War Museum archives, London.
11
. Metropolitan Water Board Emergency Committee Minutes Book, ACC/2558/MW/01/292: London Metropolitan Archives, 31
st
August 1939, p. 2.
12
. BBC radio broadcast recording:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/ww2outbreak/7917.shtml
, Accessed 27
th
July 2011.
13
. Metropolitan Water Board Emergency Committee Minutes Book, 13
th
September 1939, p. 8.
14
. Ibid.
15
. Ibid.
16
. Memorandum no.221,
Metropolitan Water Board –Fifty Years
Review 1903–53
, pp. 273–4.
17
. Metropolitan Water Board Emergency Committee Minutes Book, 13
th
September 1939, p. 12: Finsbury Council was the local government body for the area where the Metropolitan
Water Board was located.
18
.
How To Purify Your Drinking Water
, Statement broadcast by the Director of Water Examination on 13th August 1940, Appendix E to untitled document within
Air Raid Precautions and Flood Emergency 1940–9
(as detailed above).
19
.
Pollution of Water Supply
, Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich, 1st August 1941, Water Supply in the City of London 1941–2, COL/TCD/CD/03/035,
http://www.nation-alarchives.gov.uk/currnency/default0.asp
, Accessed 9th March 2012.
20
.
In war-time emergencies make your water supply absolutely safe:
what to do in emergency
, Milton Proprietary Ltd, EPH470:19, Wellcome Library, London.
21
. Appendixes B and C to untitled document within
Air Raid
Precautions and Flood Emergency 1940–9
(as detailed above).
22
.
Schweppes: The First 200 Years
, Douglas A. Simmons (London: Springwood Books, 1983) p. 80.
23
.
Evacuation
, Imperial War Museum website:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/evacuation#
, Accessed 13th March 2012 / BBC website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ff3_blitz.shtml
, Accessed 14th March 2012.
24
. Ibid. BBC website.
25
.
Metropolitan Water Board –Fifty Years Review 1903–53
, p. 302
26
. Interview with George Billingham and Arthur Durling, Reel 1.
27
. Ibid.
28
. Untitled document within
Air Raid Precautions and Flood
Emergency 1940–9
(as detailed above) p. 11.
29
. Interview with George Billingham and Arthur Durling, Reel 1.
30
. Ibid.
31
. Appendix A, untitled document within
Air Raid Precautions and Flood Emergency 1940–9
(as detailed above).
32
. Ibid. p. 17.
33
. Interview with George Billingham and Arthur Durling, Reel 1.
34
. Ibid.
35
.
Ibid.
36
. Appendix A, untitled document within
Air Raid Precautions and Flood Emergency 1940–9
(as detailed above), p. 22.
37
. Ibid. p. 19.
38
. Ibid. p. 21.
39
. Untitled document within
Air Raid Precautions and Flood
Emergency 1940–9
(as detailed above), p. 2.
40
. Ibid. p. 3.
41
.
How To Purify Your Drinking Water
, Statement broadcast by the Director of Water Examination on 13th August 1940.
42
. Untitled document within
Air Raid Precautions and Flood
Emergency 1940–9
(as detailed above), p. 14.
43
.
Air Raid Precautions and Air Raid Damage
, in
Air Raid
Precautions and Flood Emergency 1940–9
, p. 8.
44
. Letter from Gerald G. Caney, 29th May 1941, Water Supply papers City of London 1941–2.
45
. Letter from the Director of Meyer and Johnson Oriental Carpet Importers to City Sanitary Inspector, 3rd July 1941, Water Supply papers City of London 1941–2, COL/TCD /CD/03/035, London Metropolitan Archives.
46
. Ibid. Letter from Dr Charles F. White to the Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, 11th June 1941.
47
. Ibid.
48
. Ibid.
Memorandum of the Arrangements made by the War
Emergency Water Committee, London Civil Defence Region
, 4th June 1941.
49
.
Use of privately owned wells in emergency
, Memorandum of interview with Sir Warren Fisher, 27th February 1942,
Air
Raid Precautions and Flood Emergency 1940–9
.
50
.
Memorandum from the Chief Engineer of the Chairman of the
Board
, 10th October 1941, p.3,
Air Raid Precautions and Flood
Emergency 1940–9
.
51
.
Blitz Feeding
circular
B.80
, London County Council, April 1941, Papers of LJ Dillon, 10/2/1: Imperial War Museum
archives, London.
52
.
Communal Kitchens connected with Voluntary Organisation in the County of London
, April 1941, Papers of LJ Dillon.
53
.
Blitz Stew
, circular B.34, London County Council, Papers of LJ Dillon.
54
.
Meals Services: Emergency Water Supplies
, Report of Inter- departmental conference, London County Council, July 1941, point 20, Papers of LJ Dillon.
55
.
Blitz Feeding
circular B.80.
56
.
Meals Services: Emergency Water Supplies
, Report of Inter- departmental conference, London County Council, July 1941, point 5, Papers of LJ Dillon.
57
.
Britain at War
, documentary film directed by Rosie Newman, circa 1946, MGH 3773: Imperial War Museum film archive, London.
58
.
The Blitz
, Bruce
Robinson:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ff3_blitz.shtml
, Accessed 14th March 2012.
59
.
Metropolitan Water Board –Fifty Years Review 1903–53
, pp. 305–6.
60
. Cover letter from A.H. King for
Emergency Sources of Water
Supply bulletin
, issued to Water Undertakings within the London Region, 7th September 1942, in
Air Raid Precautions and Flood Emergency 1940–9
.
61
. Ibid. p. 1.
62
. Ibid. diagram showing test for
Emergency Distribution of
Water
.
63
. Poster no.10, undated, 1939–50, ACC/2558/MW/C/20/01: London Metropolitan Archives.
64
. Ibid.
A New Year Resolution
, poster no. 6.
65
.
Consolidated Instruction to Invasion Committees in England and
Wales
(HMSO, July 1942), p. 8.
66
.
London Water Supply
–
Need for Economy in Use, The Times
(London, England), Saturday 15th January, 1944, p. 2, Issue
49754 /
Call To Save More Water, The Times
(London, England), Saturday 11th March, p. 2, Issue 49802 /
Water Scarcity in
London - Flow of Thames Lowest on Record, The Times
(London, England), Saturday 6th May, 1944, p. 4, Issue 49849:
The
Times Digital Archive
, Accessed 15th March 2012.
67
.
Serious Shortage of Water, The Times
(London, England), 15th August 1944, p. 2, Issue 49935, Col. C:
The Times Digital
Archive
, Accessed 15th March 2012.
68
.
Emergency Supplies
–
63, Edward St
, ACC/2558/MW/C/14/112: London Metropolitan Archives.
69
.
Metropolitan Water Board –Fifty Years Review 1903–53
, p. 304
70
.
The Watch on London’s Water
, in
London’s Water Supply –
Safeguarding its Purity in Peace and War
, Metropolitan Water Board, 1945, ACC/2558/MW/C/48/055 p. 14.
71
.
London in the 20th Century
, Jerry White (London: Vintage, 2008) p. 38.
72
. Ibid.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Purity and Poison 1948–1969
1
.
Health Minister Urges Compulsory Medication
, London Anti- Fluoridation Campaign pamphlet, publication undated / received by the Metropolitan Water Board 21st October 1966, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/263(6), London Metropolitan Archives, p. 3.
2
.
County of London Plan
, Prepared for the London County Council by Patrick Abercrombie and J.H. Forshaw (London: MacMillan, 1943) p. 36.
3
. Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association Annual Report 1945, ACC/3168/096, London Metropolitan Archives p. 8.
4
. Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association Annual Report 1948, ACC/3168/096, London Metropolitan Archives p. 7.
5
.
The National Health Service Act 1946
, Annotated, together with various orders and regulations made thereunder by S.R. Speller (London: H.K. Lewis ¦ Co, 1948) p. 55, Part 3, Section 28.
6
.
The Fluoride Wars: How a Modest Public Health Measure Became
America’s Longest Running Political Melodrama
, (New Jersey: John Wiley ¦ Sons, 2009) p. 1.
7
.
Prevention of Dental Caries by Fluoridation
, Report by the Director of Water Examination, Metropolitan Water Board 1952-69, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/001, London Metropolitan Archives, p. 3.
8
.
The Festival of Britain
(London: Festival of Britain, 1951) p. 4
9
.
The Story of the Festival of Britain
(London: Festival of Britain, 1952) p. 25.
10
.
Prevention of Dental Caries by Fluoridation
, p. 5.
11
. Ibid. p. 2.
12
. Ibid. p. 5.
13
. Ibid. p. 1.
14
. Ibid. p. 5.
15
. Ibid.
16
.
The Fluoride Wars
, p. 1.
17
.
The Fluoridation of Domestic Water Supplies in North America as a means of controlling dental caries
, Report of the United Kingdom Mission (HMSO, 1953) p. 11.
18
. Ibid. p. 18.
19
.
Housewives Today supporting the policy of the British Housewives
League
, 1st January 1953, Fluoridation of water supplies: objections, 1953–68, Metropolitan Water Board, ACC/ 2558/MW/C/08/263/001, London Metropolitan Archives.
20
. Ibid., Response from Metropolitan Water Board to H.F. Marfleet, 23rd January 1953.
21
. Ibid. Letter from Housewives Today dated 6th May 1953.
22
.
Prevention of Dental Caries by Fluoridation, Report no.2
, p. 3, Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports
1952–69, Metropolitan Water Board, ACC/2558/MW/ C/08/265/001, London Metropolitan Archives.
23
.
The Fluoridation of Domestic Water Supplies in North America as a means of controlling dental caries
, p. 21.
24
. Ibid.
25
.
City Refuses to be ‘Guinea-Pig’, The Manchester Guardian
(Manchester, England), 2nd June 1954.
26
. Report by the Director of Water Examination, 20th March 1959, p. 1, Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports 1952–69, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/001, London Metropolitan Archives.
27
.
The Fluoridation of Water and the Prevention of Dental Decay
, Ministry of Health Reference Note No. 9 (HMSO: 1955).
28
.
Fluorides in your water supplies, Picture Post
(London, England), 7th May 1955, Issue 58, Picture Post Historical Archive. Web. Accessed 13th September 2011.
29
.
The Fluoridation of Water and the Prevention of Dental Decay
, p. 2.
30
. Ibid. p. 4.
31
. Ibid. p. 6.
32
. Ibid. p. 5.
33
. Ibid. p. 4.
34
.
The Effect of Purification Procedures on Fluoride Content in
Water
, Report by the Director of Water Examination, 20th March 1959, p. 1, Metropolitan Water Board Committee and Board Reports 1952-69, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/001, London Metropolitan Archives.
35
.
Fluoridation
–
Why and How To Stop It
(London: The British Housewives League, circa 1959) p. 1, Note pamphlet is undated but was stamped by the British Museum on 1st October 1959. The mention of two recent contemporary anti-fluoridation events in Andover and Darlington also suggests that a late 1958, or early 1959, publication date would be correct.
36
. Ibid.
37
.
The Effect of Purification Procedures on Fluoride Content in
Water
, pp. 2–6.
38
.
Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies
, Letter from Clerk of the Board to members, 15th February 1960, Metropolitan Water Board Committee and Board Reports1952–69, ACC/2558/ MW/C/08/265/001, London Metropolitan Archives.
39
.
A Journey Through Ruins: The Last Days of London
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009) p. 177.
40
.
Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects
, No.105 (HMSO, June 1962).
41
.
Report of the Government Steering Committee on the Conduct of the Fluoridation Studies in the United Kingdom and the Results
Achieved After Five Years
, Report by the Director of Water Examination, E. Windle Taylor, 16th July 1962, p. 3, Metropolitan Water Board Committee and Board Reports 1952–69, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/001, London Metropolitan Archives.
42
. Ibid.
43
.
British Waterworks Association letter
, October 25th 1962, Metropolitan Water Board Committee and Board Reports 1952–69, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/001, London Metropolitan Archives.
44
. Ibid.
45
.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies
, House of Lords debate, 10th December 1962, vol. 245 cc411–4, quote from Enoch Powell’s speech by Lord Newton.
46
. Ibid. Lord Douglas of Barloch.
47
.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies
, Ministry of Health letter 14th December 1962, Metropolitan Water Board Committee and Board Reports 1952–69.
48
.
The Government of London
, Gerald Rhodes (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1970) p. 140.
49
. London Government Act, Chapter 33, Part 1, 1 (HMSO: 1963).
50
. Ibid. Section 45, Clause 1.
51
.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies
, Report from the Clerk of the
Board
, May 1963, p. 2, Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports 1952–69, Metropolitan Water Board ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/002, London Metropolitan Archives.
52
.
Fluoridation
, Statement by E.L. Beers, 29th May 1963, Secretary of the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board.
53
.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies
, Ministry of Health Circular, 25th June 1963, Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports 1952–69, Metropolitan Water Board ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/002, London Metropolitan Archives.
54
.
Fluoridation
, Ministry of Health (HMSO: 1963) p. 2.
55
. Ibid. p. 5.
56
. Ibid.
57
. Ibid. p. 6.
58
. Letter from Marian Reid of London N16 to Metropolitan Water Board, August 1963,
Fluoridation of water supplies:
objections
, 1953–68, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/263/002.
59
.
Environmental Toxicology: The legacy of ‘Silent Spring’
, Volume 19, Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine, Eds. D.A. Christie and E.M. Tansey, (London: Wellcome Trust/University College London, 2004) p. 8.
60
.
http://www.rachelcarson.org/
, Timeline, Accessed 19th March 2012.
61
.
Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies: The Ethical Question is
Paramount
, Southern Counties Branch of the National Pure Water Association, undated but included with an array of 1963 materials, Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports 1952–69, Metropolitan Water Board ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/002, London Metropolitan Archives.
62
. Ibid.
63
. Postcard from London anti-fluoridation campaign, undated,
Fluoridation of water supplies: objections
1953–68, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/263/006, London Metropolitan Archives.
64
. Ibid. Letter from the Clerk of the Metropolitan Water Board to the London Anti-Fluoridation Campaign, 29th August 1963.
65
.
Water Board Wants Cards Stopped, The Times
(London, England), Monday 4th November 1963, p. 6, Issue 55849, Col. F, Times Digital Archive. Web. Accessed 13th September 2011.
66
.
A Journey Through Ruins: The Last Days of London
, p. 199.
67
.
Fluoridation: A Monstrous Violation of Human Rights
, London Anti-Fluoridation Campaign, undated but likely to be 1963, Introduction,
Fluoridation of water supplies: objections
1953–68, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/263/006, London Metropolitan Archives.
68
. Letter from Lord Douglas of Barloch, 5th July 1963, Letter from Lord Douglas of Barloch, 5th July 1963, Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports 1952–69, Metropolitan Water Board ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/002, London Metropolitan Archives.
69
. Letter from Miss Marjery Abraham of W2, 4th November 1963,
Fluoridation: supporters
1962–69, ACC/2558/MW /C/09/200, London Metropolitan Archives.
70
. Ibid. Letter from Richard Oliver, 5th November 1963.
71
.
Fluoride in Water at Birmingham, The Times
(London, England), Friday 5th June 1964, p. 76, Issue 56030, Col. E, Times Digital Archive. Web. Accessed 13th September 2011.
72
. Extract from a speech by the Minister of Health, the Rt. Honourable Kenneth Robinson M.P. to the Annual Conference of the London Boroughs Committee, 1st November 1965, Metropolitan Water Board,
Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports
1952–69, ACC/2558/MW/C/08/265/003, London Metropolitan
Archives.
73
. Ibid. For example, Letter from the Clerk of the Board to K.F. Lewis Esq., 26th November 1965.
74
. Water Examination Department document stamped 26th April 1968,
Fluoridation: correspondence with local authorities
, Metropolitan Water Board, ACC/2558/MW/C/09/201, London Metropolitan Archives.
75
. Ibid.
76
. Ibid.
77
.
Fluoridation of water supplies
, 26th April 1968, extract from Water Examination department document,
Fluoridation of water supplies: committee and Board reports
1952–69, ACC/ 2558/MW/C/08/265/003, London Metropolitan Archives.
78
.
No Fluoride for Londoners’ Teeth
, Leonard Vicars,
Evening
News
, (London, England), 23rd May 1968.
79
. London Anti-Fluoridation Campaign statement, 1st June 1969,
Fluoridation of water: objectors
1969–73, Metropolitan Water Board, ACC/2558/MW/C/09/198, London Metro- politan Archives.
80
.
Should Fluoride be added to London’s Water?
(London: Greater London Authority, 2003), Chair’s foreword.
81
. Chapter
5: Drinking Water Guidelines and Standards
(Draft), Sombo Yamamura in collaboration with Jamie Bartram, Mihaly Csanady, Hend Galal Gorchev and Alex Redekopp (Geneva: World Health Organisation, undated) p. 6, Retrieved 29th March 2012,
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/arsenicun5.pdf
Crapper Puritas, Catalogue No. 30, p. 50 (London: Thomas Crapper and Co., 1954).
82
.
Factories Act
, Clause 41, 1 Edw. 8 ¦ 1, Geo. 6, Ch. 67 (HMSO: 1937).
83
. The Drinking Fountain Association Annual Report 1968, pp. 9–10, ACC/3168/119, London Metropolitan Archives.
84
. Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough
Association Annual Report 1960, p. 9, ACC/3168/111, London Metropolitan Archives.
85
. Ibid. p. 10.
86
. Email from Ron Brooker, 6th October 2011.
87
. Email from David Khan, 21st September 2011.
88
. Email from Lesley Ramm, 22nd September 2011.
89
. Email from Peter Skuse, 22nd September 2011.
90
. Telephone interview with Ginnie Smith, recorded 23rd September 2011.
91
. Email from Bernard Pellegrinetti, 28th September 2011.
92
. Email from Valerie Scott, 4th October 2011.