Dirty faces and fat bellies

Dr JC Paisley in his annual report about school health, said schools' basins were grimy, without effective water supply, soap and drying facilities.

He said the children were not using them because they were so bad and could only be used for washing out ink wells.

According to Dr Paisley only when caretakers and principals paid particular attention to the problem did it run smoothly.

He said: "A first class school caretaker is, of all caretakers, a man apart. His is a profession rather than a job, and when he is found his worth should be recognised with something more than a perfunctory word of praise."

The medical officer also highlighted the number of fat children in schools across the county.

He said there were many more in 1967 than there had been formerly and they belonged to all social classes.

"This is no obvious connection with the earlier maturation of children under modern conditions," added Dr Paisley.

"But it is partly the effect of publicity campaigns of the cereal and potato crisp manufacturers, the confectioners and the ice cream makers.

"Advertising is no more on the side of the angels in this than in the matter of cigarettes.

"In our childhood we can remember relentless pressure to clean our plates and to some extent there was an economic origin behind that as well as a moral background.

"Parental pressure may be weaker now, but one is sometimes impelled, as one unenthusiastically plods one's way through a restaurant menu to wonder if some seeds of later obesity may not be sown in the small child and baby if they are encouraged to take an ounce or two more nourishment than he really wants and needs."