Public Health Information - What will you remember

[Guest IB]

Recent posts sparked a memory of this public health information message broadcast in early 1960’s. It was set to a stills cartoon and narrated by the late Cyril Fletcher. 50 years on could only remember three lines: ‘to find poor Gertie proper ill’, ‘at high degrees of heat they die’, ‘if merely warm they multiply".

 

So thought from that sparked memory that it was about making sure your food was thoroughly cooked before eating it, but having now turned up the poem, it’s all about washing your hands:-  

 

Eight" exactly Gertie's stretch

a not too greedy little wretch

was taken after to school to tea

for a birthday treat by her auntieee

 

Next day dawn, as next day will

to find poor Gertie properly ill

she cried "come here quickly Mum

I've an awful pain inside me tum"

 

The doctor came and shook his head

it's not a chill or sweets he said

"perhaps the food you've given Gertie

was chopped up when your hands were dirty"

 

Upon this ma Ma was really hurt

she said "in my home there's no dirt"

the doctor said "in general terms

on your hands are lots of germs.

 

Before preparing food you ought ta

wash your hands in hot soapy water

at high degrees of heat they die

if merely warm they multiply".

 

This story was made up, did you guess?

And here's it's message to impress.

HANDS SPREAD GERMS.

ALWAYS WASH THEM BEFORE PREPARING FOOD.

 

50 years later, the 'wash your hands' message is still being broadcast this time relating to the H1N1 / Swine flu thing.

 

first question: who remembers the Cyril Fletcher one?

 

second question: what do you young folks think you’ll remember of the current ‘wash your hands’ one in 50 years time?

 

[Guest spin cycle]

was it cyril fletcher who did monologues on esther rantzen's show in 80's ?

[REDCHEQHEN]

was it cyril fletcher who did monologues on esther rantzen's show in 80's ?

 

It might have been earlier than that (doesn't time fly LOL !!) But he did do them in one of the shows she also appeared in

[Guest spin cycle]

 

It might have been earlier than that (doesn't time fly LOL !!) But he did do them in one of the shows she also appeared in

 

in which case i do remember him...he had an unusual voice. perhaps it was 70's...when i was a lad (evil)....ah well 'thats life'

[Guest]

 

It might have been earlier than that (doesn't time fly LOL !!) But he did do them in one of the shows she also appeared in

 

you ought to know aunty Sue , it was on T.V.  about the time family fortunes used to be on (evil)(evil)        andy.

[REDCHEQHEN]

 

you ought to know aunty Sue , it was on T.V.  about the time family fortunes used to be on (evil)(evil)        andy.

 

You wouldn't recognise me - I can guarantee that (evil)

[Guest]

 

You wouldn't recognise me - I can guarantee that (evil)

 

were you taller then ??(evil)(evil)                     andy.

[REDCHEQHEN]

 

were you taller then ??(evil)(evil)                     andy.

 

I wasn't as wide LOL !!