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C.E.L.O.P,S. Closed After
Three Years' Service
THE C.E.L.O.P.S. Hostel in Tclford
street has closed after providing
accommnodation, meals and entertain
ment for 54,914 servicemen in the
past three years and four months
Opened by Lord Wakehurst il Sep
tember, 1942, the hostel was estab
lished and run by the Church of Eno
lald Diocese in Newcastle. It was
staffed by women from 13 parishes
in the diocese. each group of 'women.
usually numbering from eight to 12
each day, working at the hostel from
0 a.mi. till 7.30 p.m., or taking half
day shifts.
More than £4000 worth of meals
were served during the hostel's life.
Yesterday, t)e President of the
Women's Committee (Mrs. Batty)
was hostess at a farewell party in
the hostel. It was attended by the
Bishop (Right Rev. F. de Witt Batty)
and more than 300 women workers
from various parishes.
The only other imen piresent were
three who have acted as caretakers
and general advisers and helpers in
the nast three years. Messrs. Hi. E.
Barclay. B. Pollard. and Wenton.
Yesterday's party was informal.
Women sat on tables when all
available chairs were claimed for
1us0. A few stretchers were brought
from the dormitory, but one begian
sagging dangerously. and several
women decided it was safer to
stand.
Women workers enjoyed the op
portunity to discuss the work done
at the hostel. They rememnbered the.
,ratitude of tired servicemon wh,'
soon discovered that they could re
main in bed until late in the morn
ing while on leave. The hostel's
ske)ileio aiCOlllliuOdtiou was always
booked out, 60 men being catered
for at a time.
Losses aind breakages were re
marklably few. Workers found tlhe
men, besides being very grateful for
what was done for them, only too
ready to cooperate and do any jobs
which would help the women.
The women soon realised that ser
vicemen apprecilated the homely,
friendly atmosphere of the hostel,
with its lack of rules and regula
tions, as much as, if not more than,
the excellent meals and comfortable
hleouning ianmrters.
Most of the women were sorry the
hostel had closed, although they had
worked hard.
Because the building was erected
as a telnporarv wartimle structure,
it will be demolished when men are
available foi the work.
Water for yesterday's afternuio
tea was heated in a ipetrol tin in
the yard at the back of the hostel.
Bishop Batty said hie was i[tnud
of the diocese's was effort. l?unmt.l
brooichee, inscribed "FoIm seirvice ell
dered at the 'elolop hostel from.
1942-45" would lie sent to all women,
who attended the hostel.
BishoQp Batty presented gifts to
the three men who served with thi
women at the hostel. Mrs. Batti
was presented with a leather-bound
prayer book from the hostel work
erap
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