[Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Gloucester City & Port.

  • Gloucester (England). City and Port Council.
Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Gloucester City & Port. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/80 (page 10)
    Public Health Department, Priory House, Greyfriars, Gloucester. To the Mayor, Aldermen and, Councillors of the City of Gloucester. Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present herewith my Annual Report for year 1947. Changes and developments in the work of the Public Health Department continue, but the greatest changes are due to take place next year in connection with the National Health Service Act 1946, and these will be reported on then. This Report is again divided up into sections, with introductions to each. Mr. Upham, Senior Sanitary Inspector, retired in February after 34 years service with this Corporation. Mr. Upham was renowned for absolute reliability, fairness and accuracy. There was never any fuss with him, just quiet and efficient work. Whether people with whom he dealt were humble or influential, all were treated alike, courteously but without fear or favour. I feel X have lost a friend as well as a colleague. The outstanding event of the year was the flooding which occurred generally, but particularly in such places as Gloucester. The following notes are of interest The Flood in Gloucester Between the 19th and 24th March of the year 1947 a flood occurred in the City, which was the worst ever recorded. The water at the Gloucester G. & B. Lock lower cill rose to 25 ft. 4 ins., equal to a reduced level of 36-36 O.D. The highest flood previously recorded at the lock rose to 24 ft. 11 ins. on 16th November, 1852, and this old record was exceeded by some 5 inches. Between 24th January and 14th March at least 5 inches of rain fell in the form of snow on the upper portion of the Severn Catchment Area and between the 15th and 21st March during the period of the thaw a further rainfall averaging approximately 5 ins. was recorded over the same area. There was thus the equivalent of about 10 inches of rainfall to be run off the upper portion of the catchment area and the accumulated rainfall was discharged without hindrance, culminating in the greatest flood known for 177 years. (It is estimated that the peak discharge at Gloucester must have been in the region of 40,500 cusecs).