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December 2012
Issue 24
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Culture club
Money
Merry Christmas from the Oddfellows
Fundraising across the Society
Congratulations to Tony Stables from Sturminster Newton for winning the final photo competition of 2012. Thank you to everyone else who entered. Look out for your photos on our Facebook Page during December.
We meet an epic adventurer, some spotty staff and the ‘Oddtash’ gang
Prizes to be won WIN: A cocktail making masterclass for two in London worth £80!
See inside for your chance to win a £50 Jessops voucher!
Also featured this month Around Britain We celebrate 2012 with a look back at some of the Society’s best bits from the last 12 months.
Active Travel Club: Next year’s hottest holidays for you to look forward to.
WIN: A dazzling pair of gardening gloves! Send George a gardening question for your chance to win
Culture club: Read about the latest event we’re launching just for fiction fans.
(See inside for more details)
Food & drink: One of the UK’s finest cocktail makers shows you how to make the perfect festive Egg Nog. Health and wellbeing: We speak to one of the Society’s Welfare Officers about how they look out for vulnerable members during Christmas time. Home & garden: George Hill is here to answer your gardening questions. Latest news: More success for Oddfellows Brass. Sport & leisure: We catch up with one of our promising young sporting Oddfellows.
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Culture club “I love going to the theatre once in a while, so when I heard my local Oddfellows Branch was arranging a trip I couldn’t pass it up.” Sharon - Manchester
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Share a good read
From Shakespeare to Sartre, with Fifty Shades of Grey in between, books have sparked debates and created conversations for centuries. Now members in Sheffield are launching a new monthly ‘Lovers of Literature’ event for fiction fans to get together and enjoy classic reads, new releases, plays and poems. The group will welcome guest speakers, poets and spoken word performers, as well as hosting creative writing courses. There will even be plays and books for members to read aloud, along with plenty of new books to be discovered. Launching on Tuesday 26 February 2013, Lovers of Literature will meet in Crucible Corner, Sheffield, on the fourth Tuesday of every month. To find out more, or to discuss setting up a similar event in your area, call Sarah on 0161 233 2352 or email sarah.spurgeon@oddfellows.co.uk.
Through the lens – photography competition The theme of this month’s photo competition is ‘sunrise’. With the New Year nearly here we want you to send us your best sunrise pictures. So set the alarm clock early and go and get snapping! If we choose your photo to appear in the next edition you’ll win £50 of Jessops vouchers to spend in store. You can enter by emailing your photo to ezine@oddfellows.co.uk, posting it on our Facebook wall or sending it in a tweet that mentions @OddfellowsUK. Click on the links on the left to visit our social media sites.
Terms and conditions 1) Entries can be submitted at any time and still be included in this competition. However the cut off date for each edition’s theme will be the first day of the month. For example, the December competition closes on 1 January 2013. 2) If successful, you will be contacted by the Oddfellows to arrange the delivery of your prize. 3) If your photograph contains an image of a person, building or private location please ensure you get permission from the person/building owner before submitting your entry. 4) By submitting a photograph to this competition you are confirming that you have given permission for the Oddfellows to use and reproduce this image in future publications and marketing material, both online and printed. 5) The Oddfellows will assume your consent has been given once your entry is submitted unless you directly state otherwise at the time of entering the competition. (Continued on the next page...)
Culture club
The Reader’s Reviews
Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding In 1950s Romania, a thin, bedraggled man is found on the steps of a hospital. He is a mystery to the medical staff. He has no identification on him and he doesn’t speak.
Sadly, I was never able to engage with this book despite being initially fascinated by the historical background to the events. Romania during post-war Communism is an unknown world for me.
Through him, Harding tells the story of an upper class Romanian family caught up in the Russian invasion of Romania during the Second World War. As his memories reveal how the advance of Communism destroyed their way of life, a sense of nostalgia for a lost golden age permeates through.
After the intriguing start in which a deaf, mute, destitute man is found wandering the streets of a city, the story begins to unfold through a confusing series of interweaving flashbacks.
After WWII, the world has become incomprehensible to him. He tries to make sense of life through illustrations and his beloved passion for drawing but he is deaf and mute and so cannot process emotions. The tragedy that surrounds the central characters is deeply conveyed in fluid and poetic intensity. Although set in a desperate period of world history, this book awakens the emotions, and makes the reader wonder what life is like for those forced to live in a silent world. Its impact remained long after I finished reading and it’s by far the best book I have read this year.
Throughout the book, the many descriptive passages of the man’s paper foldings and drawings became extremely tedious and I believe this book was a lost opportunity. The author had chosen such a fascinating time frame and I found her descriptions of the changes wrought by WWII and later the Communist regime to be illuminating. I have a personal interest in these events as my mother suffered in post-war Greece, which nearly became a Communist state as well. I finished the book because I promised that I would. Otherwise I would have abandoned it well before the halfway point! Stella McGeachin, St Helens and Warrington District
Jane Nicole, Reading District
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Food & drink “My favourite thing about the Oddfellows is that all the events are aimed at foodies like me. We even went on a tour of an English vineyard recently – I’ll drink to that!” George - Brighton
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Somerset Egg Nog Created by Tony Conigliaro, owner of 69 Colebrooke Row (The Bar With No Name) Ingredients 6 eggs 300g of sugar 300ml of single cream 600ml of whole milk
150ml of Somerset cider brandy (5 years old) 150ml of Breton cider Freshly grated apple and nutmeg
Method First, separate the eggs into whites and yolks. Beat the yolks with the sugar to form a batter. Add the cream and the milk to the batter and whisk it all thoroughly. (Other types of cider brandy and cider will work as alternatives.) Add the cider and cider brandy to the mixture slowly before whisking the whites together in a separate bowl to form stiff peaks. Finish by folding the whites into the batter mix before serving the drink in a small cup with a grating of nutmeg and apple to garnish. Please drink responsibly and ensure anyone you serve this drink to is aged 18 or over.
Tony Conigliaro is widely acknowledged as being one of the UK’s pioneering drinks creators. He has won numerous awards, while also finding time to write articles and create some of London’s most respected drinks. Visit his website.
WIN a cocktail making masterclass for two worth £80! These two hour classes are run at 69 Colebrooke Row in the fashionable London borough of Islington. Devised by Tony, these informal and hands on group sessions will teach guests how to prepare the finest cocktails. To enter, simply email ezine@oddfellows.co.uk and tell us what you’ll be doing for Christmas this year. Competition terms and conditions 1) Only one entry allowed per person. 2) The deadline for entries is 11.59pm on 31 December 2012. 3) The winning entry will be chosen at random from all entries by the Oddfellows and the winner will be notified within three weeks. 4) By entering this competition you are giving permission for your name and entry to be used by the Oddfellows in published material, both online and in print. 5) This prize cannot be exchanged for another option and the Oddfellows reserves the right to cancel or change the details of this competition without prior notice. The Oddfellows cannot take responsibility for any injury or disappointment caused by this competition. For full competition details please contact ezine@oddfellows.co.uk.
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Latest news “I’ve promised myself I’ll try new things, and I can do that thanks to the Oddfellows. My friends never thought I’d try paragliding, but it was of the best things I’ve ever done!” Karen - Nottingham
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Girl power A family of Oddfellows is showing that girl power is alive and well by having three female members of the Societyholding senior positions in one District at the same time. Doreen Swain, her daughter Maureen Burgoyne and granddaughter Kimberley are all members of Derby District’s King George IV Branch. Grandmother Doreen is currently the President of the Midland Group Conference, the highest regional position possible. Maureen is the District Chairman while Kimberley, 18, is a Noble Grand; a ceremonial achievement that few achieve at such a young age. 67 year old Doreen and her husband Trevor joined the Society 20 years ago after delivering a buffet to the District, working for the company they ran at the time. “Everyone was so friendly to us that we signed up there and then,” she explains. “We’ve been members ever since – making friends and helping people just like the motto says.”
Pictured with Kim (centre) are grandparents Doreen and Trevor Swain (front) and Mum and Dad Maureen and Alistair Burgoyne (back
The couple have been married for 48 years and have both previously held the role of District Chairman. They’ve gone through the Chairs together – the Society’s traditional ceremonial exams – and are both Trustees; Doreen for the District and Trevor for the Lodge. Maureen, 45, and her husband Alistair, 49, have both been members since the ‘90s. He is on the District’s Committee of Management and their children Nicholas, 21, and Kimberley are both members too. In total, ten members of the immediate family are active Oddfellows members. Doreen signed up her six grandchildren 15 years ago and already Kimberley looks to be following in her grandmother’s footsteps. “She’s always visiting older members to help them out with computers,” says Doreen proudly. “She’s full of life, like most 18 year olds are, and she enjoys the Society more now than ever.”
Emma leads Oddfellows Brass to victory One member of the Society’s critically acclaimed brass band has taken gold in a prestigious regional competition. Emma Morris, 14, plays the flugelhorn for Oddfellows Brass and took the award of Best Flugelhorn Player in the category A section of the Gloucester Brass Band Association contest on Sunday 11 November. After joining the band in February, Emma beat off many older and more experienced rivals to win with a rendition of Tallis Variations, a piece of music notorious for its challenging nature. Oddfellows Brass is popular nationwide for the rich and often humourous playing style of its talented musicians. For more information about booking or attending an Oddfellows Brass concert email oddfellowsbrass-press@hotmail.co.uk.
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Around Britain “These days we take ‘staycations’ in the UK to keep costs down. But wherever we go there are always Oddfellows events to entertain us.” Lesley - South Yorkshire
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Profile: The Society in 2012
Here are some of the Society’s best bits from the past 12 months. Thank you to everyone who has given their time, money or knowledge and helped to make 2012 a year to remember.
Making the news Click on the headline to read the full story on our website
January
July
UK Districts aid quake-hit Christchurch
Oddfellows Brass play in memory of much cherished member Dal Dewgarde
April
September
Oddfellows give £90,000 to Spinal Research UK
June Oddfellows Olympic torchbearer’s flame burns twice as bright
July Society welcomes Jane Nelson as its new CEO
Paralympic Oddfellow takes Bronze at London 2012
Friendship Month
September
1 - 30 September
Our second annual Friendship Month helps spead the word
November Oddfellow’s Roving Rev wins national social media award (Continued on the next page...)
Around Britain Tales from the Clipper
Famous faces
Father and daughter members Peter and Claire Needham took part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for charity. Click here to read Claire’s blog entries about their incredible adventure.
This year in our monthly online magazine, Judy Dench told us about her life in films, Nigel Slater revealed his ‘desert island dish’ and columnist Simon Jenkins told us why he thinks the National Trust is the perfect “post-digital” organisation.
The state of things
Social media stats* • More than 1,700 likes on Facebook • 866 followers on Twitter – a 27% rise • There were live updates from the AMC on social media for the first time • More than 6,700 views of our members’ videos on our YouTube channel
The Society now has more than 260,000 members belonging to 151 Branches across the UK.
Did you know?
• Click here to watch this year’s most popular YouTube video! • The Oddfellows Branch in Skipton, North Yorkshire, was rejuvenated with the help of a new online community called ‘Skipton Links’.
Are you tweeting? See what other Oddfellows members are tweeting about by visiting www.twitter.com/OddfellowsUK/friendly-tweeters.
Interested in finding out more?
The Society organised more than 4,000 events last year, that’s equivalent to 11 for each day of the year.
There are now more ways than ever to get in touch to find your nearest Branch or event. - Email ezine@oddfellows.co.uk - Find us on Facebook or Twitter by clicking on the icons at the top of the page - Call 0161 832 9361 - Write to us at: Events and Communications Department, Oddfellows Society, Abbey House, 32 Booth Street, Manchester, M2 4QP.
*Correct as of 1 December 2012
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Active Travel “I love the Oddfellows’ Active Travel Club. My friends and I go on active and culture trips, weekends away and holidays abroad. It lets me meet new people, and it was free to join!” Roger, London
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2013 Active Travel Club trips With those cold dark winter nights now upon us, it’s the perfect time to start planning for your next spring or summer break. The Oddfellows’ Active Travel Club organises trips away throughout the year to cater for all tastes. Here are just a few that you can look forward to during 2013:
All-inclusive holiday to Lake Como (Italy) Wednesday 24 April 2013 (four nights, five days) Join us for a relaxing and picturesque trip to Lake Como; one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations. This fantastic foreign holiday includes return flights from East Midlands to Bergamo, transfers to and from Lake Como and four nights all-inclusive accommodation in the three-star Britannia Excelsior Hotel in Cadenabbia. Cost: £369pp (exclusive price to Active Travel Club members) single supplement: £10pp per night Optional excursions Trip to Lake Lugano in Switzerland and Lake Maggoire in Italy (full day) – £35 Lake cruise and wine tasting (half day) – £28
Active Travel Club Summer Holiday Norton Grange Coastal Village (Isle of Wight) 1 July 2013 (four nights, five days) Join us for a relaxing trip to Norton Grange Coastal Village on the Isle of Wight This fantastic break is for four nights half board, en-suite accommodation plus an entertainment programme and optional excursions. Booking code 67GPB. To book contact Barbara Flood on 0800 072 0772 Cost: £214pp (based on two people sharing)
These offers are only available to Oddfellows members. To find out more about becoming a member click here. For existing members to find out more about the Active Travel Club please email active@oddfellows.co.uk or call 0161 832 9361.
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Home & garden “Sorting out the garden is how I like to relax. An expert gave a talk at my local Oddfellows branch – it helped me no end.” Christine - Derbyshire
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George Hill was a professional gardener by trade. After completing a seven year apprenticeship at Leighton Hall near Shrewsbury he became Head Gardener at Burwarton House, a 22,500 acre estate near Bridgnorth owned by Lord Boyne; cousin and Lord-in-Waiting to HM The Queen. He worked there for nearly 40 years and still lives nearby since his retirement. He continues to give expert talks, judge competitions at gardening shows and appear on gardening question panels. Is your garden giving you grief? Well, fear not, because George is here to answer your gardening questions. Send your question to him by emailing ezine@oddfellows.co.uk. If we publish your question we’ll send you a brand new pair of dazzling gardening gloves absolutely free, thanks to Joe’s Garden Co.. Q: “How should I prepare for growing broad beans next year?” Malcolm, London A: Leave the space where you’ll be growing them free from manure. Otherwise this can cause a bacterial disease in the root system called chocolate rot. It will soon be time to plant the first batch under a cold greenhouse in January. Q: “What plants can I give as gifts this Christmas?” Elizabeth, Sheffield
Ask George George’s focus I’m already thinking about next year in everything I do in the garden. Think about what went well this year and start preparing and ordering, your seeds for next year now. I’ll finish off pruning as plants and getting things tidy, as well as digging more farmyard manure into the soil. By looking after the soil this year, the crops will look after you next year. Remember! If we publish your question we’ll send you a brand new pair of dazzling gardening gloves absolutely free, thanks to Joe’s Garden Co.
A: Poinsettias are lovely plants that you can buy right now. Likewise, polyanthus, primrose and cyclamen plants can be purchased cheaply now in pots and kept in a cold greenhouse to flower for Christmas time.
Q: “What do you grow during the winter?” Neal, Dudley A: There’s always something growing in my garden. Parsnips, leeks, carrots and kale are some of the hardy crops I like. Most of these will look after themselves unless the weather is really severe. If temperatures drop as low as -10°C or -15°C then it’s a good idea to protect your crops with some straw.
Members with green fingers Oddfellows members are eligible to receive a special 10% discount on anything at www.suttons.co.uk, from seeds and bulbs to gardening equipment and greenhouses. To take advantage of this exclusive offer, click here*. *You will need to be signed in as a member to access the Members' Benefits page.
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Sport & leisure “I’ve never really been ‘sporty’, but I try to keep fit. My local Oddfellows branch now hosts a walking club. It’s great to get some fresh air, and we always have a good time.” Diana - Essex
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Austen’s on cue for success
Picture courtesy of Kevin Legg
Terry Rendle, Noble Grand presents Austin with his award Austen Petty knows the sacrifices it takes to be a champion. Practicing three times a week and competing at two tournaments each month across the south of England, the budding amateur snooker player is currently moving up in the sport’s junior rankings thanks to the support of his family and his local Oddfellows Branch. When Austen first made headlines in the autumn/winter 2011 Oddfellow magazine, he had just won his first regional snooker title at 12 years old. Back then he just joined the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour less than a year after making his competitive debut. Now, aged 14, Austen competes in the Silver Tour and has also joined the English Association of Snooker and Billiard’s Regional Junior Tour South. “We could tell straight away that he’d got an eye for the game,” explains Kes Petty, Austen’s Dad. “He first started playing on holiday when he was 10 and we soon realised that he was good enough to carry it forwards. Since then he’s just gone from strength to strength.”
Despite starting quite late by snooker standards, Austen quickly caught up and his progress to date has been impressive. Speaking after winning his first title in 2011, he admitted that winning had been a real challenge, but this year he achieved a record break of 44 and is looking forward to taking his career as far as possible. Competing at this level isn’t cheap and Kes estimates it costs the family more than £900 per year for Austen to train and travel to competitions. That is why the sponsorship given to Austen by his local Oddfellows Branch in Southampton has been such a help to him. Two donations, one for £300 last year and another for £150 this year, have helped the Oddfellows member move closer to his dream career. “It’s taken lots of commitment from the whole family,” admits Kes, “but if he’s on the table competing then at least he’s not on a street corner. I’m sure he can go all the way.”
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Health & wellbeing “The Oddfellows give so much. I wish more people knew about the great services they have to offer.” Paul - London
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Festive cheer
The work being done by Welfare Officers like Karen Doku, from the North London District, helps to support the Society’s elderly, ill and vulnerable members during the holiday season and the rest of the year. Here she explains how. I became a Welfare Officer two years ago, mainly to try and give something back to the organisation that had given me so much. It’s something that’s always been a passion of mine and although I come from a background of voluntary care work, that was by no means essential. Welfare Officers help people to regain their self-confidence, self-esteem and self-determination. The majority of the work I do is about giving people back control over their lives. I’m a friend to them as well as a facilitator, directing them to the right organisations either through the Care Department or elsewhere. There’s no ‘magic wand stuff’ involved, it’s just amazing what a difference a visit or a phone call can make to someone. It’s surprising how many people I see who tell me they’re fine and then open up to me about all sorts of things over a good cuppa.
All of the officers in my District are happy to help other members with all manner of serious and simple problems, from having trouble with the housework to recovering from a stay in hospital. Things like loss, illness and loneliness always hit home harder at this time of year. My local Branch, like so many others, is very good at making sure people don’t feel like they’re on their own during the festive period.
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Welfare Officers help people to regain their self-confidence, self-esteem and self-determination. The majority of the work I do is about giving people back control over their lives.
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Christmas is traditionally a time for families and friends to celebrate together. Yet it can be a lonely and isolating time of year for many people for all sorts of reasons.
The welfare of our members is always about the bigger picture though; it’s never just a token phone call. We’re here and available all year round, not just at Christmas time. Ultimately being a Welfare Officer is a two-way thing for me. I go and support someone in their choices and let them know what choices they have, and in return I get shared experiences, anecdotes and friendships that enhance my experience as an Oddfellow. To find out more about becoming a Welfare Officer contact the Care Department on 0161 832 9361.
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Money “When I had money worries the Oddfellows put me in touch with the right people who could help. They were with me every step of the way.” Pam - Cambridgeshire
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Oodles of Cash for ‘Oddtash’
Members of Team ‘Oddtash’ took up the challenge of each growing a moustache during the month of November, raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and The Institute of Cancer Research. Participants in the challenge put up with a long month of itching and scratching, not to mention increasingly unhappy wives and girlfriends. At the end of Movember a Judging Panel was formed with a representative from each Department helping to choose the best tash. Ryan McLoughlin of the Insurance Team was crowned the winner, congratulations Ryan. He received a voucher for a traditional wet shave from Flanagans Barbers in Manchester City Centre, presented by CEO, Jane Nelson. Last year 850,000 people took part in Movember, raising £79 million worldwide. Team ‘Oddtash’ have raised over £800 already with more money due to come in from Branches, friends and family. If you would like to donate visit Team Oddtash’s page.
Huddersfield member raises thousands on Mount Kilimanjaro climb A member from Huddersfield District has climbed Africa’s tallest mountain, raising more than £11,000 for charity in the process. Sarah Wilkinson climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to fundraise for the Kirkwood Hospice; a treatment centre in Kirklees that provides specialist care to people with progressive and life threatening illnesses. At 19,340ft above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the world’s fourth tallest mountain. 40 percent of people who attempt to climb it fail and have to turn back, putting Sarah’s achievement into sharp focus. Sarah’s trek to the summit involved seven days of walking through rainforests, deserts and snow in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro National Park. For more information about Kirkwood Hospice, visit their website www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk.
Spots of fun Staff at Unity Office had fun fundraising on 16 November with a ‘wear something spotty’ event to raise money for BBC’s Children in Need. Spots were worn on dresses, t-shirts and handkerchiefs, with a couple of pairs of ‘Pudsey’ ears on show too. A baby photo quiz and a giant scratch card game helped staff to raise £125. This year’s Children in Need has raised a record £26 million already. More photos can be seen on our Facebook Page.