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January 2013
Issue 25
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Culture club
Food & drink
Hoffman on love, drugs and ageism
More than 4 million Brits now enjoy meatfree diets. Why do they do it? And more importantly, why should you? Sue Taylor from the Vegetarian Society tells us more and shares a delicious veggie recipe for you to make at home.
Prizes to be won "What is there in our culture that needs to eliminate people after a certain age?" 75 year old Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman rages at a society that now discriminates against older people. The star of The Graduate and Kramer Vs Kramer has stepped behind the camera for the first time to direct this month's star-studded film release Quartet, proving that it's not too late to start something new in your 70s.
WIN: £50 of gift vouchers in our ‘Through the lens’ photo competition! Send us your best photo inspired by the theme ‘something I love’.
Also featured this month Around Britain: We head to North Gloucester, in the heart of the Cotswolds, to find out what our members there have been up to.
Active Travel: Forthcoming holidays for 2013. Health and wellbeing: How the technology in smartphones and apps is leading to a revolution in our health. Home & garden: Your green fingered questions answered by our resident gardener George Hill.
WIN: A dazzling pair of gardening gloves! Send George a green fingered question for your chance to win.
Latest news: A New Year’s message from the Society’s Chairman. Sport & leisure: Interest in our history and heritage is on the rise – find out more about the different ways you can explore the past. Money: Tips to help you stay financially healthy this New Year.
The Oddfellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, Incorporated and registered in England and Wales No. 223F. Registered Office 32 Booth Street, Manchester M2 4QP.
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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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Life begins at 75
He is one of the most famous film stars of the 20th century. But now at the age of 75 Dustin Hoffman has decided to step behind the camera and direct his first film.
The film stars Tom Courtney, Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon and Pauline Collins. Hoffman insisted that all the other elderly characters would be retired musicians.
Fittingly perhaps, it’s a tribute to the talent and vitality of older people – a shout of protest against those who believe that once someone gets to retirement age they have nothing left to contribute. Quartet, which opened at UK cinemas on 1 January, was inspired by a TV documentary Hoffman watched about life in a retirement home funded by Verdi for elderly opera singers.
“Everyone on screen is the real thing,” he says. “They are really singing and playing. They are in their 70s, 80s and 90s.” Hoffman is clearly moved by the talent unearthed in the making of the movie. He says: “We found these people. No-one had rung their phone in 30 years. One of the best examples is Ronnie Hughes, who plays trumpet in the movie and that’s him playing. He’s 83 years old. He still has chops and no-one calls him! It’s something that I’m mystified by.”
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What is there in our culture that needs to eliminate people after a certain age? It doesn’t matter if they can still do it there’s a desire to write them out.
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Hoffman recalls the impact the programme made on him. He says: “You see these people whose bodies are compromised by age in their 80s and 90s and somewhat infirm and then suddenly they start to sing. This rejection of mortality comes out in a force that is one of the most moving things I have ever seen. I said: ‘That’s a movie worth making.’ It’s that spirit I wanted to somehow touch.”
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Culture club “It was a low point in my life. I was getting a divorce from my first wife. I was struggling; It was the 70s; I had partied with drugs and it had left me depleted in every way. I said the script is just not touching any of the realities that I am feeling.” Director Robert Benton agreed to spend three months in a hotel room working with him to completely rewrite it. The film went on to win huge critical acclaim. Hoffman says by tapping in to his own raw experiences and emotions he was able to give it a meaningful spine, which made it both therapeutic and painful to shoot. Even today it is upsetting and he starts wiping tears from his eyes as he reflects back on the movie:
Dustin Hoffman with stars Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay Hoffman is enraged by a society that ends the careers of performers – and particularly women actors – needlessly early: “You are not allowed to age and be a participant in life,” he says. “What is there in our culture that needs to eliminate people after a certain age? It doesn’t matter if they can still do it, there’s a desire to write them out.” Early reviews of Quartet have been favourable and Hoffman has been warmly applauded for his directorial debut, but it is a role he has been preparing a lifetime for. His first big break as an actor came in 1967 with the part of Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate – the tale of a young man seduced by an older woman. His first Oscar came 12 years later for Kramer vs Kramer, the film charting the aftermath of a failed marriage, but he originally turned down the role because he didn’t like the script.
“People don’t split up from relationships because they suddenly stop loving each other. They wish they could. But real love doesn’t snap off like the branch of a tree. You split up because – for whatever reason – you cannot inhabit the same space; it’s intolerable for both.” Hoffman’s insistence on rewriting the screenplay reflects a pattern. For decades he has been the scourge of writers and directors, constantly wanting to edit scripts and re-shoot scenes, striving for perfection. But the results have been enjoyed by millions. The films he has appeared in read like a catalogue of some of the best loved films of the past four decades: Midnight Cowboy, Little Big Man, Papillon, All the President’s Men, Kramer vs Kramer, Tootsie, Rain Man, Hook and Meet the Fockers. Quartet looks set to win similar acclaim, proving to the world that it is not too late to start something new in your 70s!
The Reader’s Review Film: Quartet Reviewed by Wendy Atkins, Ipswich District Had enough of the small screen over Christmas? Then why not escape to your nearest ‘big screen’ and settle down to enjoy Quartet. Dustin Hoffman directs this star-studded film with a simple storyline that centres on the characters of Beecham House, a home for retired musicians. The eminent actors do exactly as you’d expect. Three of an original quartet is Wilf, complete with innuendoes (Billy Connolly), a serious Reggie (Tom Courtenay) and a dizzy Cissy (Pauline Collins). They, along with other residents, are directed by Cedric (Michael Gambon) to perform a Gala concert. Talented musicians play operatic snippets throughout and watch out for the supporting actors; you’ll recognise many of them from TV roles! The chemistry of the trio changes, however, when Jean Horton arrives. layed by Maggie Smith with some great putdown lines, she is the fourth member of the quartet and the end of the story hinges around her. You’ll just have to watch it to find out why, and enjoy the final twist! To sum it up: Gentle, engaging and must-see 8/10
Culture club Through the lens – photography competition
Congratulations to David Baldwin from West Sussex for winning this month’s competition with this stunning sunrise snap, taken from his bedroom window on 12/12/12. The theme of this month’s photo competition is ‘something I love’, ahead of Valentine’s Day.
If we choose your photo to appear in the next edition you’ll win £50 of gift vouchers. 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 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 will be the first day of the month. For example, this month’s competition closes on 1 February 2013. 2) If successful, you will be contacted by the Oddfellows to arrange 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.
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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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Are you ready to go veggie?
“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” Inspired by his late wife Linda, the former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has long been famous for his upfront approach to his vegetarianism. Behind his frank quote from The Vegetarian Manifesto lies an uncomfortable truth; plenty of us are happy eating meat just so long as we don’t have to think about where it comes from. However there are an increasing number of people who, like Sir Paul, have taken meat off the menu. It is estimated that 4 million Brits now enjoy meat-free diets – as a lifestyle choice it seems vegetarianism has never been more popular. But why do so many do it, and more importantly, why should you? Sue Taylor from the Vegetarian Society explains why so many people now choose to separate their meat from their two veg. People tend to go veggie for three main reasons; concern for animal welfare, being conscious of the environment impact of livestock farming and to improve their own health. Some religions like Hinduism actually promote a largely vegetarian diet in their core beliefs. To be honest there are almost as many reasons for choosing to be a vegetarian as there are vegetarians. There are plenty of different approaches you can take too. You could dive straight in and stop eating meat straight away, cut down on your meat intake gradually or just resolve to eat less meat in your diet in future. All three options have their merits
but there’s no one right way to do it. Becoming a vegetarian is a personal choice. If you decide to jump in at the deep end, it’s particularly important for you to research food nutrition in order to maximise the health benefits. If you think that cutting down meat is for you, try having one day a week designated as a ‘meat-free’ day. The Vegetarian Society is the oldest organisation of its kind in the world. Today it’s a registered charity that uses its cookery school, The Cordon Vert, and its National Vegetarian Week initiative to educate people of all ages about the benefits of becoming a veggie. For more information and resources about vegetarianism or for hundreds of delicious, meat-free recipes visit www.vegsoc.org. National Vegetarian Week will take place from 20 to 26 May 2013. Meat-free facts • The vegetarian food market is now worth more than £700 million per year. • An estimated 2.3 million animals are killed every day in the UK for meat. • Research has shown that vegetarians are less likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes, heart disease and many other illnesses. (Continued on the next page...)
Food & Drink Spinach, almond and red wine pie with peperonata Supplied by the Vegetarian Society
Copyright © The Vegetarian Society 2007.
Ingredients Serves four, Cooking time: 1½ hours 600g of peeled vine tomatoes
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 tbsp of olive oil
75g of white breadcrumbs
2 red peppers, sliced
100g of ground almonds
1 tbsp of sugar 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
3-4 tbsp of low-salt stock powder
500g of fresh spinach, washed and drained
3-4 tbsp of vegetarian red wine
Method Peperonata Remove the seeds from the tomatoes, chop the flesh and then put it into a saucepan on a low heat until they begin to get juicy. Bring the pan to the boil and simmer until the tomatoes have reduced by half. Then add 1 tbsp of oil to a medium-sized pan, heat it and add the sliced peppers. Cook gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring all the time, until the peppers begin to soften. Add half of the garlic and continue stirring for another 30 seconds before adding the sugar and tomatoes. Cover and let it simmer for 15 minutes, then season well with salt and pepper to taste. Leave it to cool before refrigerating overnight.
Spinach, almond and red wine pie Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Grease and line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment, before roughly chopping the spinach and putting it in a large saucepan. Cover the pan with a lid and cook until the spinach has wilted, then leave it to cool. Next, line a large sieve with kitchen paper and add in the spinach. Use another piece of kitchen paper to press down on top to extract as much liquid as you can, leaving a small ball of spinach. Sauté the onion and the remaining garlic in the olive oil until softened but not coloured. Add it all to a bowl with the spinach and the remaining ingredients and mix well to make a moist mixture. Add a little water if it seems dry. Season it with salt and plenty of pepper before piling it into the prepared dish and covering tightly with a piece of foil. Bake for 15 minutes then remove the foil and bake for a further 5 minutes. Reheat the peperonata and serve with the spinach pie for a delicious dairy free, egg free, vegan meal.
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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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Message from the Chairman of the Society 2012 was a year of innovation and achievement for the Society. At the AMC in Southport last May delegates choose to pass the motion for Incorporation in 2013. This change in the way the Society operates will allow it to run more smoothly and more like a business. Incorporation will allow greater investment in the services and products that benefit all members. September saw the second annual Friendship Month take place and Districts across the UK all played their part, organising many different events. And more members took to the internet to use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to speak to one another. These new ways to communicate are bringing exciting opportunities, but it’s important that they also support the more traditional ways of keeping in touch. As the Chairman of the Society I’ve been fortunate enough to meet members who have achieved fantastic feats. They sailed around the world, walked the length of the country and raised huge amounts of money for charity in the process. And who could forget Paralympian Oddfellows member Nigel Murray taking bronze in the Boccia at last summer’s Paralympic Games. But it is the everyday examples of charity that make the Society work today as it has done since 1810. Welfare Officers and staff at Unity Office continue to look after those members who need help, while many others volunteer their services, skills or time for the benefit of others. There are now more than 260,000 Oddfellows members in the UK living by the Society’s three founding principles; Friendship, Love and Truth. Thank you to everyone who helped to make last year such a success. Have a Happy New Year, Charles Vaughan
Read all about it The news section of the Oddfellows website is updated regularly throughout the month with the latest news affecting our members. Whether they’re fundraising for charity, launching a new Branch or celebrating sporting success, the Society’s members are never far from the headlines. We know that friendscene readers do extraordinary things, so why not share your latest news stories with us? E-mail ezine@oddfellows.co.uk or visit our Facebook or Twitter pages today. Or to visit the news section, click here.
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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: North Gloucestershire
This month we meet Stuart Walker, Branch Secretary for the Society’s North Gloucester District, who fills us in on the best things that the area has to offer.
Bigger is better The District is one of the Society’s largest, stretching from Rosson-Wye near Wales to Chipping Norton near Oxford, taking in Tewkesbury in the north and Cirencester in the south.
Enjoy the view Visitors can enjoy Gloucester, with its Cathedral that appeared in the Harry Potter films and its recently redeveloped Docks sitting pretty on the banks of the River Severn. There’s Cheltenham, with its worldfamous racecourse, the Forest of Dean and Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury in the Malvern Hills. There is also Moreton-inMarsh, Stowe-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, quintessentially ‘English’ market towns nestled among the rolling hills of the Cotswolds that prove popular with tourists. In my opinion, the District is one of the UK’s most picturesque.
Did you know? The North Gloucester District owns more than 50 properties in the local area which it now rents out. The money raised is used to support members through a number of financial grants available exclusively to Oddfellows members. Having been a member since the ‘80s, I’ve got to know a lot of friends through the Society. I’ve always enjoyed meeting new people and being part of the Oddfellows has helped me do just that.
Coming up in 2013 Events over the next few months include an afternoon of tuition with a local artist, a snowdrop walk around the Rococo Gardens in Painswick and an Easter-themed chocolate making session. Visit the Branch’s events page by clicking here.
Vital Statistics • The District has more than 550 members • Local members recently launched Active+, a series of new events aimed at younger people. Find out more by clicking here. Pictures left: Gloucester Cathedral by W Lloyd MacKenzie. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license Moreton-in-Marsh, by Mark Hogan. File licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
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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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Getaways for the New Year 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 Bridgenorth owned by Lord Boyne; cousin and Lord in waiting to HM The Queen. He worked there for nearly 40 years and still lives nearby in retirement where he gives expert talks and appears on gardeners question panels.
Is your garden giving you grief? Well, fear not, because George Hill is here to answer your gardening questions. Send him your question 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. Q: “What can I be doing if the weather’s bad this month?” Sarah, Skegness A: Take the opportunity to disinfect your greenhouse, incorporating diluted Jeyes Fluid into the beds to remove any fungal diseases. You can plant early lettuces and broad beans inside a greenhouse in three-inch pots this month too to get a head start. Q: “Are there any benefits to the garden if we get lots of snow?” Wendy, Nottingham
Ask George
A: As strange as it might sound, a good covering of snow can actually protect plants by insulating them from the frost. And if we have a slow thaw of snow before the spring then the moisture gets absorbed more slowly, staying closer to the surface for the growing season.
George’s focus Every winter during my days at Burwarton House we would dig the vegetable garden over to let the frost get right into the soil. This always helps enormously when you’re trying to grow things in the spring. Cut down herbaceous plants to two and a half inches above the ground and plant out soft fruit plants now too. Bed them down well to prevent wind rock, which happens when the roots get blown about. Remember! If we publish your question we’ll send you a brand new pair of dazzling gardening gloves absolutely free.
Q: “How can I tell if I have ash dieback in my garden?” Norman, Chesterfield A: Just keep an eye out for the symptoms; dead leaves hanging on the trees and purple and yellow blotches on the trunks of trees and young saplings.
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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Dull history a thing of the past A winter walk has long been a popular choice for many looking to shake off the festive excess. The chance to enjoy some fresh air with friends and family in the great British countryside is an activity etched into the traditions of many Christmas and New Years’ celebrations, great British weather permitting of course. But more of us than ever are now taking a winter walk as an opportunity to enjoy another of our growing passions; history. The National Trust, which maintains some of the Nation’s finest historical buildings and monuments, has seen its membership increase by more than half a million in five years to 4 million. While the eponymous ‘blue plaque’ scheme, originally run by English Heritage solely in London, has now been replicated thousands of times at unveiling ceremonies right across the UK; like the presentation held to mark the blue plaque at the former headquarters of the Oddfellows Society’s Leeds District pictured below.
© English Heritage
Did you know? There are currently more than 870 blue plaques on buildings across London. 100 others were unveiled but subsequently lost through removal or demolition.
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There’s no doubt that in a time of austerity people seem to want to do things that are somehow traditional, almost nostalgic. They want the reassurance of the old.
And who could forget the BBC TV programme ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, a genealogy show that unearths previously unknown facts about celebrities’ family histories to a regular audience of more than six million people.
Simon Jenkins Chairman of the National Trust, speaking to Friendscene in June 2012.
Oddfellows Online Archives Interest in our past, it seems, has never been so present, so why not share with us your family history, unusual heritage or favourite places for a winter walk. Get in touch at ezine@oddfellows.co.uk or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages via the icons opposite.
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To search for a blue plaque (London only), click here
There are now more than 175,000 archived documents available to view online through the Oddfellows website, chronicling over 200 years of national events, friendships and family histories involved in the Society. For your free, five document trial click here.
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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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Tech Health Check It is estimated that 1 in 3 adults in Briton now uses a Smartphone. These devices allow users to download Apps – computer programmes that can be customised – from Apple or Android to manage different areas of their lives; including their health. The cost and quality of Apps can vary, and health-related ones are no exception. So here we review some of the best to help you stick to those healthy New Year’s resolutions.
Endomondo Cost: Free (Pro version: £2.99) This exercise app lets you track your runs, walks and bike rides, share them with friends through Facebook and search from nearby exercise routes that others have recommended. You can even try to beat your friends’ best times or record ‘pep’ talks for them as encouragement.
Nike+ Running Cost: Free The best looking app for runners by far, this monitors your runs and then provides you with a breakdown of your statistics afterwards. See your fastest time, how many calories you’ve burnt and where you went on a map. You can also review past runs and race against your personal best.
Instant Heart Rate Cost: Free (Pro version: £0.69) By using the flash from your smartphone’s camera, this App can measure your heartbeat and tell you how healthy you are in seconds.
RunKeeper Cost: Free Another running app that lets you set goals for distance, duration or weight-loss, and helps you to keep track of your progress over time.
My Fitness Pal – Calorie Counter Cost: Free If you’re looking to lose weight, being careful about what foods you eat is often a good place to start. This app helps you keep track of how many calories you consume and lose weight in a safe and sensible way. You can also connect it to the Endomondo exercise app and interact with friends to keep each other motivated.
Sleep Cycle alarm clock Cost: £0.69 (Only available through the AppStore) This works like a normal alarm clock, only better. Using a sensor built into your smartphone, it monitors how you move as you sleep and then wakes you up at the best time. By waking you during your lightest sleep state, you feel more rested and relaxed throughout the day.
All price information and availability shown is correct as of 1 January 2013. All apps are available for Android and Apple smartphones unless stated otherwise above. Please take care when exercising or attempting to lose weight through a caloriecontrolled diet.
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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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Financial planning: a resolution worth keeping Nick Cann, CEO at the Institute of Financial Planning explains why it’s so important to plan our spending habits properly this New Year. Many people are facing yet another year of below inflation or zero pay increases, while savers will be particularly hard hit again in 2013 as interest rates are unlikely to rise. It’s now almost impossible to earn enough interest after tax on your savings to match the rate of inflation. This means that the value of your money is depreciating – and that’s without you even touching it. If you’ve retired and are taking an income from your savings, perhaps to supplement your pension income, you’ll know only too well how difficult the current situation is as you watch your capital reducing year on year. Good financial planning isn’t just about how much money you have or which ISA or pension you should select. At the Institute of Financial Planning we believe that at its simplest it means taking control of your finances in five steps. Step one: Work out what it is that you want your money to do for you. Maybe you want to be able to afford a holiday this summer, move house, set up a business or save for retirement. Step two: Put timescales and costs behind those goals so you can work out whether or not you’re on track to achieve them. Step three: Work out how much money you have coming in and compare that to the amount you spend. Hopefully you’re left with a surplus. If not, you’re living beyond your means so you should pay particular attention to step four. Step four: Work out a realistic budget and make sure you stick to it. Yes it’s tough but it’s essential to get into the routine. If you’re really serious about budgeting, try to use cash instead of cards. Step five: Sticking to it! There are lots of useful Financial Planning tools online that you can use to help you make your plan. You’ll find one that’s simple, easy to use and free of charge on the Institute of Financial Planning website by clicking here.
If you do not have a financial advisor you can find details of a local financial advisor by telephoning IFA Promotion on 020 7833 3131 or via www.unbiased.co.uk. Using the services of a financial advisor may incur charges, please confirm this with the individual financial advisor.
DISCLAIMER: Links to third-party sites do not constitute an endorsement by the Oddfellows and use of the advertised products and services is entirely at your risk. The Oddfellows does not accept any liability or responsibility for any thirdparty material appearing in the e-zine or on the website. The Oddfellows has not investigated the claims made by any advertiser and product information is based solely on material received from suppliers.