CECIL HOUSES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25437, 8 March 1948, Page 2

CECIL HOUSES

GRATITUDE FOR GIFTS Lady Acland (Brown’s-road) has received a letter from Mrs Cecil Chesterton, founder and secretary of Cecil Houses, London, describing the pleasure given at Christmas by the arrival in London of parcels of clothing and food sent by Lady Acland and a small group of her friends. Mrs Chesterton. who is a sister-in-law of the late G. K. Chesterton, founded Cecil House in memory of her husband. At this house women could obtain lodgings, a comfortable bed, and breakfast for a very small sum—the price at first was Is, though a slight increase may have been made in later months. So greatly was the service given by the first house appreciated by women in varied walks in life that other similar houses have been opened in different parts of London.

The letter says that at three of the houses, stewed steak from New Zealand was the main dish at dinner on Christmas day, honey from Christchurch was enjoyed at breakfast, and at one home —in Harrow road—it is recorded that “all our goodies were home-made from gifts sent from New Zealand.”

Mrs Chesterton expressed gratitude for the help given to her by “The Press” in Christchurch and said that in addition to the food parcels, gifts of clothing were a great boon to many of the women who stayed at the Cecil Houses.

Lady Acland and her helpers are continuing to send food and clothing to Mrs Chesterton and are grateful for suitable gifts to be included in the parcels.