The War Years
Within nine months of the formation of the Infantile Paralysis Fellowship (IPF) the hostilities of the Second World War began. Initially things were relatively quiet in a period that became known as the ‘phoney war’ and made little difference to day-to-day life in Britain. While preparations were being made for the conflict to come, the Fellowship held a Christmas party in 1939, beginning, in its very first year, a tradition of grand national celebrations that were to last many years. Those who were disabled by polio knew they were not going to be called up for military service but they wanted to help with the war effort. As volunteering and conscription took many away from their places of work into the forces there were many unfilled jobs.
Taking part in the War effort
Frederic Morena, as volunteer secretary of the Fellowship, was receiving applications for membership from all over the country. A common theme was difficulty in obtaining employment. The Fellowship decided to do something about the situation. Roby Spence, who had contracted polio at the age of fourteen in 1919, was the chairman of the Fellowship at the time and took the bold step of writing to Ernest Bevin MP, the then Minister of Labour and National Service, Spence's letter explained that people who were disabled by polio may have useless legs or arms but were otherwise fully-functional and had a strong desire to assist with the war effort. He went on to say that these people could do jobs that had been vacated be men who had been called up to the forces. After a delay of two months a response saying that a policy of employing disabled people had been adopted. This meant that polio-disabled people would be able to find work.
Frederic Morena went to work in the Ministry of Supply and Roby Spence to an accountancy firm; others were able to find a wide range of work and demonstrated the worth of employing disabled people.
It is believed this initiative by the Fellowship was instrumental in changing long-term government policy in respect of the employment of disabled people and created a foundation for the equality of opportunity legislation that came in to being in later years.
A Job at last
Offices and factories were encouraged to make their premises accessible for wheelchair-users and to set up low workbenches for those who could work whilst sitting.
An example of such an initiative is found in the experience of Albert Holman who, after years of unemployment and isolation, was able to work in a factory which had created suitable accommodation for him – an adapted workbench height and arrangements for clocking in as the time clock was too high on the wall for him to reach from his wheelchair.
The difference that this opportunity made to Albert is reflected in what he wrote:
Now, after more than three years, I am back amongst the men, the machines, Once more I sniff the odour of hot oil, hear the scraping of files on metal, sometimes I hear the course jokes, I hear the serious exchange of opinions of thinking men, I take part in thr endless little incedents that are all part of a days work. In fact, despite infantile paralysis, despite the wheelchair, despite all the handicaps of a man unable to walk, I am once more one of the crowd and, with the goodwill of my employers and workmates, I hope to continue for many years to come.
The Fellowship Grows
Frederic Morena continued as secretary of the Fellowship throughout the war while holding down his full-time job. Living in London the war was never far away; in the latter part a V-2 rocket fell not far from the IPF headquarters in the Morena’s home. Travel was difficult and it was not possible to hold regular Fellowship meetings so the postal service was the lifeline by which The Bulletin newsletter was sent out to members although paper and printing materials were not easily come by. The newsletter continued to be printed and distributed to members and, as a result, membership continued to grow in numbers and influence.
With the problem of not being able to hold regular meetings, the Fellowship started a postal Pen-pal's Circle by which put members in touch with each other, so members could still share mutual experiences and Fellowship support. Such was the spirit despite the war hostilities, Frederic and Mimi, his wife, organised a bazaar in a bombed-out shop near Tottenham Court Road – was this the first ‘charity shop’?
The polio epidemics did not stop for the war; in fact there were further epidemic outbreaks, some brought about by soldiers having caught polio whilst in service abroad. There was, and still is, no cure for the disease. Neither was there, at that time, an effective vaccine to immunise people against infection although research and experimentation that were continuing. It was known that people who had caught polio were immune from catching it again. A Convalescent Serum Service using blood donors who had recently caught polio was set up in 1942 to try to effect a cure but sadly this was deemed a failure by 1947.
Services for those who had become disabled were limited and many polio people felt a great sense of isolation. The Fellowship grew in importance through The Bulletin providing contact with others all over the UK. By the end of the war the circulation was five hundred - and the readership probably many more.
As the result of an appeal in The Bulletin many polio people who were in hospital over Christmas would receive parcels, letters, and Christmas cards from friends in the Fellowship - most of whom they had never met but shared a mutual sense of need in such times.
As the war was drawing to a close, The Bulletin announced the death of the President of the USA, Franklin Delano Roosevelt who, in spite of contracting paralytic polio in 1921, went on to be elected as President in 1932, Roosevelt founded The Georgia Warm Springs Foundation (Now the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute) for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Polio Sufferers.
No such facility existed in Britain and Frederic Moreno called for a practical tribute to FDR - A Polio Institute in Britain that would serve this country and the British Empire. Sadly this dream was never realised.
|
