‘EASY TARGET’ LILY CHITTY, 99, DIES AFTER CUTS BATTLE
Pensioner who fought to keep elderly services is found dead at her Holborn home
Published: 17th March, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON
A 99-YEAR-OLD woman who joined the fight against cuts to services for the elderly has died just weeks after taking part in a protest outside the Town Hall.
Friends said Lily Chitty’s final months were clouded by uncertainty over what would happen to her.
Photographed holding a bullseye placard declaring herself an “easy target,” Lily was among those who spoke out using a megaphone during the demonstrations in January.
She told Labour councillors she was “worried to death” about the threatened closure of day centres and luncheon clubs for the elderly that she relied on.
Her words could not be more poignant now.
Lily – described as the “matriarch” of the Millman Street Resource Centre in Holborn where she was a member for 30 years – died on Sunday following a fall at her home on the same Holborn road.
Edna Pache, 88, a close friend of Lily’s for 15 years, said: “She had been very worried about these cuts as someone living alone without any help. She used to say, ‘what’s the point in living if I just have to stare at four walls every day?’ We think that was one of the reasons she just gave up.
“It was a great shock to all of us. She wanted to live to 100 and we thought she would do it.”
Abul Choudhury, a Camden-based Unison shop steward, said: “This is a warning to the council about how stressed older people are about the loss of services. We predict more and more people dying in their homes alone. This is about removing the hope older people feel for their future.”
The youngest of five children when she was born in 1911, Lily spent her entire life in Holborn and Bloomsbury.
She worked as a tailoress in the exclusive Savile Row, famous for its traditional men’s bespoke tailoring. Friends recall how even in her later years she remained passionate about fashion.
Pat Hutchins, a support worker at Millman Street, said: “She was always immaculately dressed. I never saw her looking untidy and she loved clothes and style.”
Lily married Dennis in 1933 and they had a daughter Christine. The couple met while Lily was walking her dog and it kept barking at a stranger’s feet. Years later Lily would joke that the dog chose her husband for her.
During the war, Lily joined Dennis on the railways and had the job of ensuring war supplies got through King’s Cross no matter how dangerous it was.
Although at first Dennis would not hear of Lily taking the post, he finally relented when his bosses guaranteed she could stay with him at all times.
They ended up working side by side for 20 years.
Despite his death 25 years ago, Lily continued to live life to the full, with much of her social life based around the Millman Street centre.
Fellow Millman Street member Ivy Tillson said: “She would take part in all the activities – making jewellery, handbags, pottery and exercises. She loved singing and dancing. I got her up dancing at the Christmas party and she was laughing her head off.
“She had a great sense of humour and a heart of gold. Once in a lifetime you meet someone like Lil. It was a real privilege to know her.”
Her daughter Christine added: “She loved going to the centre and seeing her friends. It truly was a lifeline to her.”
Camden Council’s consultation on cuts to elderly services closed yesterday (Wednesday). Councillors are now considering the responses.
Adult social care boss Councillor Pat Callaghan said: “We have always been proud of our services which we have spent twice as much as any other London borough. If we had the money we wouldn’t be cutting services, but we have had to look at the best ways of spending the money we have left.”
Petition – Pensioners in fight for Great Croft Resource Centre
ELDERLY people from King’s Cross marked the final day of the consultation on cuts to their day centres by delivering a petition to the Town Hall.
Members of Great Croft Resource Centre, in Cromer Street, have collected 2,238 signatures against the possible closure of the facility.
They made the journey to Judd Street on Tuesday to deliver the names in person.
Councillor Pat Callaghan, Camden’s adult social care boss, struggled to fight back tears as she was handed the petition by 91-year-old Rose Ruse.
Cllr Callaghan said: “We are listening. We know how valuable these services are. They are brilliant and the staff are brilliant but we don’t have the money in our budget to keep them. You need to talk to government about where the money has gone.”
Councillors are now considering the views put forward during the consultation.