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March 2012
Issue 1
www.oddfellows.co.uk
Culture club
Around Britain Not so grim up north Our UK-wide tour starts in Manchester, the ‘capital of the north’, as many call it. We show you the hidden gems, and what’s going on for you to get involved in.
Active Travel Making waves
The Dame’s Indian summer She may have fallen in love with India while filming there, but Dame Judi Dench has no plans to retire there just yet. The doyenne of the British acting scene speaks to us about her latest film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Food & drink Bottoms up There’s never been a better time to be a real-ale fan. As drinkers increasingly demand the “taste and quality” of micro-breweries, Nottinghamshire’s Springhead brewery opens its doors to show us around. WIN: A fantastic day out at the Springhead Beer Festival!
Cruises have been in the news for the all wrong reasons recently. Here, one of our members comes to the defence of setting sail.
Home & Garden It’s easy being green Ask George... Is your garden giving you grief? Well, fear not, because our resident gardener George is here to answer your gardening problems.
Also featured this month Discoveries: Advice on getting what you want out of social media. Health & wellbeing: ‘Good for for sole’, Lance Clark tells us about his charity work in Africa. Money: Part of the Union - Changes in legislation help more people use the Credit Union. Sport & leisure: Oddfellow member and Paralympic gold medalist Nigel Murray talks to us about his preparations for the 2012 games.
TV environmentalist Penney Poyzer, star of BBC Two’s ‘No Waste Like Home’, shares her top tips for saving cash and the environment.
WIN: Send George your gardening questions to win pair of dazzling gardening gloves.
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
‘M’ is for Marigold
(Pictured above) Dame Judi with co-star Celia Imrie She may have fallen in love with India while filming there, but, unlike her character, Dame Judi Dench has no plans to retire there just yet – as she reveals to Kate Whiting. Waiting to speak to Judi Dench is a bit like anticipating an audience with the Queen. So when I’m finally ushered into the presence of acting royalty I’m concerned to hear the great Dame coughing. She’s quick to dismiss my fears that she might have a cold. “No, I haven’t at all. I don’t know what it is. We were filming [Skyfall] yesterday, and it was very, very cold. I think I’ve just caught a bit of a cough.” She smiles sweetly, clearing the way for us to begin the business of discussing her latest role. Director John Madden managed to assemble a dream team of venerable British stars, including Dame Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie and Tom Wilkinson, for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, an ensemble comedy-drama about a disparate group of retired Brits heading for a new life in India. Dench’s character, Evelyn, is recently widowed and has been left mountains of debt by her late husband. She has perhaps the greatest ‘journey’ to contend with as she learns to become both financially and emotionally independent – beginning when she embraces the internet and learns of a hotel in colourful Jaipur for the “elderly and beautiful”. The opportunity to work with Madden again after her Oscarwinning turn in Shakespeare In Love and her Oscarnominated performance in Mrs Brown had immediate appeal for Dench. There was also the chance to visit India for the first time.
“Have you got half an hour?” she asks, giggling, before listing all the things she loved about the country. “I can’t wait to go back. Like my character, I became completely infatuated by it. Incredibly charming people – the crew couldn’t have been more colourful, wonderful, welcoming and funny. And we got to see so many things – the traffic, the birds, the colour, the light...” She even attended a royal wedding that was being held in the hotel where the cast was staying. Her eyes light up at the memory. “We stood on a balcony to watch. There were elephants and white horses. Everybody started to arrive. All the women came up to the balcony with us, and the men were in this great procession.” She’s clearly passionate about India, and it’s easy to see how a young Dench was similarly gripped by a love of acting. During her childhood in York her mother was a wardrobe assistant at the Theatre Royal. Actors often came to stay at their house. Dench later followed her brother, Jeff, to the Central School of Speech and Drama before joining the Old Vic Company, touring as Shakespeare's great heroines, Ophelia, Juliet and Henry V's Katherine – a role that also provided her New York stage debut. In 1971 she married fellow actor Michael Williams, her co-star in early-’80s sitcom A Fine Romance. The couple had a daughter, Tara Frances Cressida, who’s also an actress.
Culture club
‘M’ is for Marigold (continued) When Williams died of lung cancer in 2001, aged just 65, Dench threw herself into her work. She says she was able to draw on her experience of being widowed to play Evelyn. “Everything that happens to you is fed into a kind of computer, I suppose. It sounds rather cold, rather calculating, but nevertheless… Every experience you have you sometimes draw on if you're an actor.” In The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Dench plays a woman who is quite unused to negotiating the nitty-gritty of daily life and is suddenly forced to rise to the challenge. “It’s the whole thing of somebody suddenly dying and you thinking: ‘Gosh, I’m the person who has to change the plugs now. I’m the person who has to do the bills.’ I’d had that experience already, so I suppose I used that.”
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Everything that happens to you is fed into a kind of computer. It sounds rather cold, but every experience you have you draw on if you're an actor.
She admits it’s unusual for so many older actors to be on screen together at once, but she thinks it’s something there ought to be more of. At 77 and still in so much demand, is she at all tempted to run away to India and retire like Evelyn? “I’m not tempted to retire, but I’m very tempted to go back. I hope the film is a very strong advert for India, because it should be.”
EXTRA TIME DAME JUDI'S GOLDEN ROLES :: Queen Victoria in Mrs Brown (1997): At her regal best as the bereaved Queen Victoria who gets close to Scottish servant John Brown :: Iris Murdoch in Iris (2001): In this biopic of novelist Iris Murdoch, Dench portrays the older Iris who is afflicted with Alzheimer's disease :: Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare In Love (1998): Dench held court and won an Oscar in this fictional account of the Bard's love life.
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
The golden age of micro-brewing There has never been a better time to be a real-ale fan in Britain
According to The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), there are now more than 750 breweries operating across the country – up from just 141 in 1970. Good news for beerfans, then, at a time when recent figures show 25 village pubs closing every week. Yet despite the overall sales of beer declining, CAMRA has identified a growing demand among beer drinkers for the “taste and quality” of smaller, micro-breweries. Lots of these small-scale breweries also offer guided tours – where beer connoisseurs can witness the brewing process first-hand. Andy Linehan, tour organiser at the Springhead brewery in Nottinghamshire, tells us what guests on his tour can expect: “Our tour starts in Meg’s Bar – our brewery tap. From there it moves into the cask-washing area where I give a brief history of Springhead and how we got to where we are today. Established in 1990, the brewery was named after a bend in the River Trent – not a spring as many would expect. At the time, Springhead was actually listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the UK’s smallest brewery. Back then we were only brewing two and a half ‘brewers’ barrels’ per brew. This is the equivalent of 10 nine-gallon casks that you’ll see outside pubs. We’re now up to 50 per brew, and are brewing almost two million pints each year, so we’re a bit bigger these days. The tour then moves on to the main brewery area – this is the business end where all of the action happens.
I’ll explain how the brewing process works, what all of the equipment is used for and what everyone does. I then guide the tour through to the fermenting area where our four fermenting vessels are held. Each vessel can hold a staggering 14,500 pints and we’re constantly using all of them. After that we move into the cask area – a cold room where we fill the casks. And then we see the storeroom, where the beer’s held until it’s dispatched around the UK. Each tour finishes where it started; back in Meg’s Bar. Here, we have a ‘tutored tasting’ session – where our beers are available for tasting and I explain how we devised the recipe and achieved each beer’s distinctive taste and aroma. For £15, the two-and-a-half-hour tour includes a light buffet and a free Springhead bar where guests can try our full range. Unsurprisingly, this is our most popular tour! We also offer a smaller tour for £7.50, which is just as comprehensive but without the food and drink. We haven’t been running tours very long, having only moved into our current premises last Easter, but we’re now running at least two or three each month. I look forward to showing you around very soon.” For more details on Springhead Brewery tours, email angie@springhead.co.uk or call 01636 821000.
Food & drink Win a fantastic prize package Here’s your chance to win a fantastic day out at the first annual Springhead Beer Festival for you and three friends. Three lucky readers will each receive four day-passes to the festival; taking place over three days on 26 – 29 April 2012 at the company’s famous Robin Hood site in Retford, Nottinghamshire. Open each day between 12pm – 11pm, the festival will showcase more than forty quality real ales and ciders from top microbreweries across the country. There’s food, entertainment and, of course, six of the finest ales from Springhead. Once inside, winners and their guests will also receive two free drinks, to start the day off with a bang. To be in with a chance of winning Simply answer the following question in 25 words or less: Why do you think that the British pint is best? Send your answers to: ezine@oddfellows.co.uk before 10 April 2012. The winners will be contacted soon afterwards, with their names announced in the April edition of the e-zine. Event details The normal ticket price is £2 per person per day, and on Sunday 29 April, all beer will be sold at £1 per pint while stocks last. For more information please visit the www.springhead.co.uk or call the brewery on 01636 821000.
Competition terms and conditions Only one entry allowed per applicant. The deadline for entries is before 10 April 2012 – any entries received after this time will not be included in the prize draw. The winning entries will be chosen by members of staff at Springhead Brewery, and their decision is final. The prize on offer provides three separate winners each with four free tickets to the Springhead Beer Festival and eight beer tokens. Each winner will also win one Springhead T-Shirt. These prizes cannot be exchanged for another option, or anything of monetary value, and the Oddfellows Society reserves the right to change any of the details of this competition at any time without prior notice.
Food & drink
Guest recipe - seafood sharing platter Courtesy of the Plough and Flail pub, Cheshire The Plough & Flail The Plough and Flail pub is famous for the superb quality of its food and customer service. The menu combines traditional pub grub with more modern British dishes, all of which show off the best seasonal produce available. The majority of the meat used there is prepared in its butchery and delivered daily to the exacting standards of the chefs. And guests can complement their meals with locally produced guest ales on tap. Visit http://tinyurl.com/877le4d This adventurous recipe takes planning and time to prepare, but will definitely impress your next dinner guests.
Sea trout and beetroot gravadlax Ingredients
Method
750g sea trout – with skin left on 1 large bunch of dill – roughly chopped 50g caster sugar 100g sea salt 2 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp white pepper 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 50g beetroot – grated
Place the fish skin-side down on a large piece of cling-film. Mix together the remaining ingredients with a blender to make the cure – then spread it generously over the sea trout. Finally, cover it all with cling-film and place in the fridge overnight with a weight on top to press it flat.
Mackerel roll-mops Ingredients
Method
1 whole mackerel – filleted Pickling vinegar 500ml white wine vinegar 500g caster sugar 1 chilli – deseeded and finely chopped 20 black peppercorns – crushed 100g dill 1 small onion – finely sliced 2 celery stalks – sliced 1 carrot – peeled and sliced
Boil the white wine vinegar for 3 minutes then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer it all for 3 more minutes before removing from the heat and leaving to cool. Once cool, place it in the fridge to chill overnight. Roll the mackerel fillets in the pickling vinegar and then refrigerate for 2-3 days.
Morecambe Bay potted shrimps Ingredients
Method
50g brown shrimps 1 knob of butter Cayenne pepper – pinch Mace – pinch Coarse sea salt White pepper – freshly ground The juice of half a lemon
Melt the butter in a frying pan and add the remaining ingredients. Simmer until the shrimps are cooked. Check that the seasoning is right, then pour into serving dishes and chill.
Home-smoked halibut Method Cure the halibut in the same way as the sea trout gravadlax, but without the dill and beetroot. Once it’s chilled in the fridge overnight, smoke it over oak chippings for 20 minutes, then leave to cool and slice finely. Alternatively, cook it in the oven for 10 minutes.
Pickled cucumber Method Firstly, peel one whole cucumber into ribbons. Then take 50 ml of the remaining pickling vinegar from the roll mops and pickle the cucumber for 2 hours.
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
Manchester A guide to the world’s first industrialised city
Manchester is often described as the ‘capital of the north’. It’s also the birthplace of the Oddfellows – so it seems a fitting place to start our UK-wide tour, showing you the nation’s hidden gems!
What’s worth seeing?
After Dark Once the sun goes down, Manchester comes alive. You can choose between a concert of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, watching theatre in the round at the Royal Exchange or catching a new release at an art house cinema. Not to mention the hundreds of different restaurants covering every possible taste and cuisine.
Take a trip to the art gallery or opera house. And you can’t visit Manchester without taking a trip to Chinatown – with its plethora of authentic cuisine. To sum it up in one sentence…
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Manchester has everything… except a beach!
(Ian Brown, the Stone Roses)
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Urbis - the new National Football Museum
Manchester Town Hall
If you like museums then Manchester doesn’t disappoint. There’s the Museum of Science and Industry and the Manchester Museum with its prehistoric exhibits. There’s also the National Football Museum, which opens this year at the Urbis building.
Sir Robert Peel
Famous children A City of firsts
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Sir Robert Peel (above)
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Albert Finney
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Caroline Ahern
• The first atom was split by Ernest Rutherford at Manchester University in 1919.
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Anthony Burgess
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Sir Norman Foster
• The nation’s first working canal, bus service, passenger train and football league all started here.
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Gracie Fields
Mr Rolls and Mr Royce, of car-making fame, met for the first time in 1904 at the city’s Midland hotel.
Around Britain On the ground: our members from Handforth and Altrincham
Sharon Hulse Cottle, Branch Secretary for the Handforth and Altrincham Oddfellows, tells us what’s special about her local area – and reveals some of the exciting upcoming events her District has planned. “Our District stretches from Macclesfield to Sale, covering Alderley Edge, Hale, Knutsford and Lymm. We’re lucky to live in an area jam-packed with interesting places to visit. Our events let people go to places they’ve always wanted to visit – and in good company too.
Vital statistics • The Branch was formed in 1838 • It has more than 300 members • Today’s District covers a number of historical Branches like Lily of the Forest, Earl of Stamford and Dixon. • For further details contact Sharon, Branch Secretary on 01925 758117.
Theatre trips, tours of Buddhist temples and National Trust days out are just some of our recent activities. Our events are friendly, informal and interesting – letting people make new friends along the way.”
Around Britain
Events being organised by the District Wednesday 16 May - 11am ‘Nine Lives’ Talk by Janet Bradshaw - High Legh village hall We have arranged a fabulous one-lady show by Janet Bradshaw, a member of the history interpretation team at Tatton Park. Janet will lead us on a whistle-stop tour of people through the centuries at Tatton Park. She transforms herself into nine different ladies who have lived at Tatton. Janet explores the history of the estate through the lives of ordinary people. Janet said “The annals of Cheshire serve us well when it comes to the history of the rich and famous of our country, and so we know much about the Masseys, the Stanleys, the Breretons and the Egertons, the families who resided at and around Tatton Park throughout the centuries. However, those families were sustained by the toil and loyalty of armies of villagers and servants, without whose diligence the rich could not have led the rarified and grand lives they did”. Cost: £5 per person, including light refreshments Address: West Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6NB Monday 21 May - 11am Guided tour of Abbeywood Gardens, Delamere Following a recommendation by a member, we have arranged a guided visit of these delightful gardens, starting in the glasshouse with a quick history of Abbeywood, a tour of the formal gardens by the head gardener and the woodland garden with plenty to see and lots of wildlife and birds as well as the gardens (outdoor shoes recommended). The tour will be upto two hours followed by coffee and cake in the tea room. Cost: Address:
£5.50 per person Abbeywood Estate, Delamere, Cheshire CW8 2HW
Thursday 19 April - 11am Guided Tour of Stockport Plaza followed by lunch in the coffee shop We have arranged a guided tour of this iconic 1932 Stockport variety theatre and cinema, the tour guide will explain the history of this building and you will get the chance to see behind the scenes including the backstage and projection room, housing a rare Kalee 8 projector restored to its original condition and one of only a handful left in the world. After the tour, which will last approximately one hour, we will have tea/coffee, sandwich and scone with preserve in the fantastic coffee shop. Cost: Address:
£10 for tour and tea The Plaza, Mersey Square Stockport SK1 1SP
If you are interested in joining us for any of these events, please contact Sharon, Branch Secretary on 01925 758117.
Active Travel
“I went to Austria with the Oddfellows last summer. Everything was taken care of – the only thing I had to worry about was making sure to enjoy myself.” Paula - Manchester
Postcards from: a cruise
Cruise holidays have been in the headlines recently for the all wrong reasons. But they’re still one of the most popular ways to get away. Wendy Atkins, from Ipswich, tells us why she just loves a cruise: • You only need to unpack once and the hotel goes with you. • It’s a hassle-free way of exploring new, exciting ports almost every day. Once on dry land you’re free to explore the ports on your own, or you can join one of the many planned excursions. • There’s something for everyone – whether you want to try something new, enjoy the onboard attractions or just relax in peace and tranquillity. • And – possibly the most important point – there’s fabulous food, wonderful wine and great company.
Oddfellows Cruises on board a Fred Olsen Ship Cruise 1: Southampton – The Coast of Spain and Lisbon, 26 April 2012, 14 nights on board ‘Balmoral’ Ship Prices from £1,329pp, plus £140 free onboard spend per cabin Cruise 2: Dover – The Baltic and Norway, 24 June 2012, 13 nights on board ‘Black Watch’ Ship Prices from £1,369pp, plus £130 per cabin free on board spend
FR APR OM IL 2 012 (12 NIG HTS +)
Cruise 3: Newcastle – The Arctic Circle, 14 August 2012, 12 nights on board ‘Boudicca’ Ship Prices from £1,189pp, plus £120 per cabin free on board spend
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Full itineraries available on request • All members, family and friends welcome Book early for best cabin choice and take advantage of group benefits
If you want to join any of these cruises, or for more details on availability and price please contact Wendy on 01473 251867 or ipswich.branch@oddfellows.co.uk
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
Penney saves you pounds
TV environmentalist Penney Poyzer, star of BBC Two’s ‘No Waste Like Home’, shares her top tips for saving cash and the environment. With household energy prices higher than ever, there has never been a better time to really get to grips with saving energy around the home. When it comes to saving money and cutting down on CO2, using less energy whenever we can really does make sense. Our kitchens account for a significant percentage of household energy use – 27 per cent is used by cooking alone – so a few simple lifestyle changes will make a difference to the planet and your bank balance. How many cuppas do you have a day? The average UK household boils the kettle seven times a day, which means together we use the equivalent of over four terawatts every day – that’s about half the output of Sizewell B nuclear power station. Millions of cuppas are thrown away each day because they have gone cold – we’re literally chucking money down the sink. So next time you fancy a cuppa, don’t let it go cold. And avoid overfilling the kettle too. If your fridge-freezer or washing machine is approaching its
tenth birthday, it will likely be using 50 per cent more energy than a new top-rated model and costing you up to £37 a year in extra bills. Go for an AAA rated washer next time. Fridges and freezers draw on electricity all the time, so make sure you are being as efficient as possible with yours. Try to keep them as full as possible. But be warned: even enormous American-style appliances can be A++ rated, even though they typically use 50 per cent more energy than a 300-litre model. As CO2 levels continue to rise, and with energy prices unlikely to fall, making your kitchen energy efficient turns the heat down on your finances – and the planet. Quick tips to cut cooking times • Use the right sized pan for the burner • Cut food into small pieces and just cover with water • Always use a lid for the saucepan • Switch the ring off five minutes before the end of cooking time – the latent heat will continue to cook the food.
Do you have a top money-saving or environmental tip to share? Send it to ezine@oddfellows.co.uk
Home & Garden
Ask George
Do you have a green-fingered gripe? Well, fear not, because help is at and. George is here to answer your gardening problems. And if we publish your question in next month’s edition we’ll send you a brand new pair of dazzling gardening gloves absolutely free, thanks to Joe’s Garden. Email ezine@oddfellows.co.uk today. Q: “I’ve got some roses and they’re getting in a bit of a mess. How can I get them back into to shape?” Molly, Boston
Q: “I’ve just acquired a new allotment. How do I go about planting some potatoes?” Nigel, Manchester
A: When you’ve got to this point you need to prune hard.
A: Incorporate plenty of organic matter into the soil, add plenty of blood bone and fish at a rate of 2 ounces to the square yard, or perhaps farmyard manure or compost.
Luckily, March is the perfect time of year to prune your roses. Prune most roses right down until there are only two or three buds left on the new growth. Do the same for the Floribunda but leave five or six buds on the new growth. Always prune to outward-facing buds. This leaves the centre of the rose buds open and free – giving better circulation and preventing mildew from forming. For any overgrown rose bushes, try to cut out any criss-crossed branches that are rubbing against each other. This will help to prevent disease getting into the framework of the bush and produce a nice, goblet-shaped bush in future years.
Then dig a trench 4 inches deep and place your potatoes about 15-18 inches apart in rows. Make sure you place the potato end facing up – where the new growth is coming from - so it doesn’t have to struggle to get itself established.
Home & Garden
George in the garden this month
March is here and the daffodils have come to the front of the stage, so spring has arrived. It’s a beautiful time of year. My favourite plant right now Snowdrops are at their best now. It’s the ideal time to divide them this month, but only once they’ve finished flowering. Do it while some foliage remains and they’ll bloom just as well next year. The flower garden • Fork through your herbaceous borders. •
Plant herbaceous perennials like hardy cyclamens
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Sow a few early pansies, violas and spring bulbs too
The fruit garden • Feed your raspberries, loganberries and blackcurrants •
Feed your strawberry beds now to make juicy fruits later in July
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Spray your blackcurrants with a liquid copper fungicide
The vegetable patch • Sow some parsnips and broad beans outdoors to get a nice early crop •
Plant potatoes and mint outdoors at the end of the month
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Sow a few onions indoors, and pot up a few potatoes inside too George’s focus: the lawn March is the month where putting time and effort into your lawn will pay dividends later. First, scarify it well to work out all the moss that’s in the ground. Then work down and rake it thoroughly, before adding a small amount of top dressing. Sow an ounce of grass seed into the peat for every square metre. This will improve your lawn and bring it back to its glorious best for the summer to come.
New Member Benefit This fantastic 10% discount offer for Oddfellows members at Suttons.co.uk will brighten up your garden. Suttons is an internationally renowned supplier of flower and vegetable seeds, young plants, bulbs, fruit bushes and other horticultural products to amateur gardeners. They have a reputation for quality and service that is second to none, and a remarkable history that goes back over two hundred years. Members are eligible to receive a 10% discount on anything on the Suttons website from seeds and bulbs to gardening equipment and green houses. To take advantage of your exclusive Oddfellows 10% discount click here*. *You will need to be signed in as a member to access the Members' Benefits page.
Home & Garden
Budding business - Joe’s Garden Joe talks to us about his budding business and why he’s not your average gardener By his own admission, Joe Page likes unusual things. When we meet him, the 23-year-old is covered in cuts and bruises – the war wounds from crashing a microlight two days before. But, unlike his plane, his fledgling business Joe’s Garden is on its way up. It only began trading last September, but has already grown fast. With the gardening market so traditionally aimed at older generations, gardening gloves are, at first glance, an unusual choice for a young entrepreneur – when asked about this, Joe acknowledges he had some stereotypes to overcome. “Changing perceptions has been the hardest part. It’s a market that likes to keep things just as they are. “I’m not the world’s greatest gardening expert, but I think that’s a good thing. I’ve tried to simplify everything – three products, three types of gloves and three sizes.” “The gloves are lightweight, comfortable and come in three fantastic colours – pink, orange and yellow. “The concept is a simple one and can be expanded into tools and other areas of the garden.” Our meeting ends with us asking him if he thinks his age is a help or a hindrance – and he leaves no doubt about his views on the matter. “People aren’t used to having a 23 year old sitting in front of them with a fully fledged business idea for them. I find I’m selling myself sometimes as much as the gloves. “But being young is definitely my selling point, and daily challenges are what I signed up for – I’m enjoying building a business and giving it a go.”
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
Paralympian going for gold Nigel Murray isn’t your usual world number one sportsman. Then again, the two-time Paralympic gold medallist’s specialty, Boccia, isn’t your usual sport. A fusion of bowls and boules, Boccia dates back to Roman times. To be a champion you need patience, concentration and, above all, accuracy. It’s safe to say most people in Britain have never heard of it, let alone seen it played – even though our national team is among its greatest exponents. As a result, Nigel enjoys the sort of agreeably anonymous existence not traditionally enjoyed by champions. Yet he might have to get used to being recognised a little more often – because later this year his competitive swansong will take place on the biggest stage he could hope for. He’s set to head into the London Paralympics officially rated the best in the world and aiming to bow out with the ultimate prize – the individual gold medal. Nigel, who has cerebral palsy, knew nothing about the sport until he attended a sports taster day for people with disabilities. A keen table-tennis player during his school days, he soon found Boccia came naturally to him – and the rest, as they say, is history. Now 47, Nigel is one of Boccia’s veteran players. He’s travelled the globe to compete at the highest level and has a trophy cabinet to rival anyone’s. It boasts Olympic gold medals from Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 and a host of other World Cup and European honours. Nigel is adamant this summer’s Games will mark his farewell. He says he wants to devote more time to coaching the sport’s future stars.
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Competing at home is something truly special – something I just couldn’t miss.
Then again, he said the same thing four years ago before taking silver in the individual competition and helping Britain claim the team gold – triumphs that persuaded him he should sign off in front of his home crowd. Until recently the British team was officially rated the world’s best. Having slipped from top spot, Nigel and the other members are determined to redress the balance in London. “We have an automatic place at the Games as host nation,
Nigel Murray with his Bejing 2008 Paralympic gold medal although we would have qualified anyway,” says Nigel. “It’s an elite sport, and we’re likely to come up against stiff competition from the likes of Spain and Portugal. But we’ve got to do something about that ranking! “Besides, to be competing at home is something truly special – something I just couldn’t miss.” You can rest assured that thought will be driving Nigel on as he trains hard to prepare for the sport’s greatest competition and – who knows? – perhaps the wider recognition he deserves. Nigel is a member of the Leamington Spa Branch of Oddfellows.
Discoveries
“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
Expert explanations: social media Q&A: Liz Cable, Reach Further social media consultants What is social media? Social media is a great way of staying in touch with people. You can also find and make new friends who share the same interests as you. They could be long lost relatives on the other side of the world or old school friends, but more often social media is used to find people and clubs in our local areas. And it’s free to use. But isn't it just easier to pick up the phone instead? With a telephone call, you have to hope that they’re in. But with social media you can send messages and reply whenever it suits you. It's less interruptive than a phone call and less formal than an email. Think of it as a bit like being in a pub – you hear snippets of conversations all around and you get to choose which ones you join. Social media is just for kids, though, right? Not at all. The fastest growing user group is the over 55s or "silver surfers,” as they’re often known. Is it safe? It's safe as long as you’re sensible. Take precautions. Don't give away any personal information and when you go on holiday don't announce it to the world. How do I get started? See if you can find someone who’s already online to guide you. And once you’re signed in you'll find everyone is really willing to help you find your way around. If you live in the UK, you can visit www.facebook.com/OddfellowsSociety or join our international page at www.facebook.com/OddfellowsInt
Best of the rest: top three social media websites Our no-nonsense guide to getting the most out of the web, three sites at a time... Foursquare There are three main uses to Foursquare – connecting with friends, finding interesting things to see and do, and earning money-saving offers. You can connect with your friends and ‘check in’ at different places on your mobile phone. These can include tourist attractions, shops, restaurants; the list is almost endless. And lots of these businesses now offer discounts if you check in there. Twitter Twitter can be overwhelming at first glance, but try it once and you’ll soon be hooked. Lots of your friends may use it, as well as your favourite brands and public figures. You can tell people what you’re doing or can find out the latest news and opinions. It’s noisy, fast and informative, but it’s fantastic fun. Pinterest According to the experts, this will be the next big thing. It’s an online pin board that lets you showcase your interests and share them with friends. Get ideas for your garden, share holiday photos or search your favourite photographs – the possibilities seem limitless. To give us your opinion about these sites or social media in general email ezine@oddfellows.co.uk.
Discoveries
In the news Some stories from the media this month
Sleep is like wine – it only gets better with age
The tech-world’s latest fruit machine means business A £22 computer the size of a credit card is set to revolutionise the way we work with computers.
Researchers in the US claim to have debunked the myth that our sleeping patterns get worse as we get older. The sleep study, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, asked 150,000 adults about their sleeping habits – and the results may come as a surprise.
Following in the wake of Apple and Blackberry, the Raspberry PI is a device with a difference – its owner has to programme it.
Contrary to popular belief, the research revealed that sleep gets progressively better as we get older – apart from a slight dip during our 40s – with people in their 80s reporting better sleep than anyone.
It might not look much right now, but its developers believe it could be the catalyst for a new era of cheap, accessible and programmable computers.
The report originally set out to prove that the opposite was true. But as researcher Dr Michael Grandner now admits: “These results force us to re-think what we know about sleep in older people.” Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, a Professor of Sleep at the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, said: "We have got to get away from all these myths about ageing – many people are very content with their sleep."
Designed and funded by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, it will be rolled out in schools across the UK to help the next generation learn vital computer skills. The company wants “owning a truly personal computer to be normal for children”. And so far it’s not just kids who want to get their hands on it – technology enthusiasts snapped up the first stocks within a few hours. But more are on their way soon.
Super-strong spider-web used as violin strings A Japanese researcher has unveiled a violin with strings made entirely from spider silk. The strings are made up of thousands of individual strands of web produced by 300 of our eight-legged friends, and are then tightly twisted to emulate traditional violin strings. Shigeyoshi Osaki, from Japan's Nara Medical University, has spent years studying spiders. Spider silk is five times stronger than steel of the same diameter. The Japanese scientist now plans to look at other areas where the super strong material can be used.
Health & wellbeing
“The Oddfellows give so much. I wish more people knew about the great services they have to offer.” Paul - London
Soul Man An interview with Lance Clark, founder of Soul of Africa
He spent his entire working life with Clarks Shoes, the worldfamous firm that has borne his family’s name for six generations, and even now he serves as a consultant. But he’s not a man to rest on his laurels. In 2006 he co-founded Soul of Africa – a charity whose aim, expressed in the motto ‘Aid through trade’, is to help Africans help themselves. “I was asked by the South African government to go out there and advise on shoemaking, because unemployment was a big problem,” recalls Lance. “While I was there I was taken to an orphanage – barely more than a tumbledown shack – in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, and all the children ran out to meet us. “One boy in particular came over, crying, and hugged me. I picked him up and, I’m not ashamed to admit, began to cry. And that’s when I decided I had to do something to help.” Lance and fellow co-founders Mike and Sarah Geyde, of Froggie Shoes, set up the charity to deliver self-sustainable employment by teaching local women the art of making and selling shoes. They ensure all the profits benefit the workers and the region’s large population of orphans – as a result of which Soul of Africa has to date helped more than seven thousand orphans and underprivileged children in the Natal region.
The old rundown orphanage has now been completely rebuilt, and the charity also runs drop-in centres where children can eat and learn but still go home to their extended family at night
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What Africa needs is jobs, and this is one of the few projects that gives people the means to do something about their problems for themselves.
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At 75 years of age, Lance Clark could be forgiven for wanting a rest.
“This stops the children feeling institutionalised, as they would in an orphanage,” says Lance. So far sales of the shoes have raised over $2m in profit that goes directly back to the local area. And, according to Lance, it’s having a truly transformative effect. “Before they were desperate. Many were unemployed, and most of them struggled to even feed their own children. Now they’re earning proper, decent wages and are proud to be contributing to the solution rather than depending on handouts.” Lance is a firm advocate of the view, held by many, that simply throwing aid at Africa’s problems has often done more harm than good. “They’d be far better off if a fraction of the money that’s poured in for aid had gone on proper commercial investment,” he says.
Health & welbeing
Soul Man (continued) “What Africa really needs is jobs, and this is one of the few projects that gives African people the means to do something about their problems for themselves.” Six years on from its launch, the charity has plans to start similar schemes in Ghana and Tunisia. Lance, meanwhile, has no intention of slowing down. “People ask me: ‘Why are you doing this when you’re over 70?’ My answer is always the same: it’s just so rewarding to give something back to people who are desperate. “There are two million orphans in South Africa alone who
Getting involved
need help. It’s demanding, but you’ve just got to keep going.” Asked if he would do it all again now he knows the challenges, he concedes: “Doing anything like this in Africa requires a lot of patience and assistance. “But when you look back on your life do you want to think ‘I just consumed a load of unnecessary things and left behind a heap of garbage’ or do you want to know that you did your bit to help those less fortunate than you?” Not many people could argue with that.
There are three main ways you can help: • Buy the shoes – they’re available now on the Clarks website or in stores • Volunteer your time to get involved • Offer relevant business skills to Soul of Africa in areas such as e-commerce and publicity Wherever you live, all offers of help will be gratefully received. For more information on getting involved visit www.soulofafricacharity.org or speak to Lance personally by calling 01458 441021 or 07717 293711. He is also available as a guest speaker.
“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
Money
Credit union – available to more people Changes in the legislation regarding credit unions has helped Manchester Unity Credit Union. It can now open up its membership to allow anyone who is an Oddfellow or affiliated with the Oddfellows to join. The aim is to attract more members and help more people develop good saving habits. At the same time, savers will still receive low APR loans and all the benefits that come with being a joint member of the Oddfellows and the Manchester Unity Credit Union. By increasing its membership, the Credit Union will also increase the income of its members. This, together with more members taking out loans, will enable the Credit Union to declare higher dividends to its members. Dividends are paid annually – subject to the profit that the Credit Union makes each year. The Manchester Unity Credit Union has more than 600 members who have saved over £670,000 together. For more information please go online to www.manchesterunitycu.co.uk or email info@manchesterunitycu.co.uk, or call 0161 233 2569. Office hours are 9am-3pm Mon - Fri.
Earn £50 to keep friends and family warm British Gas wants you to recommend someone in need of home insulation and will pay you both £50 in return. The offer applies to anyone who knows a vulnerable family member, neighbour or friend who would benefit from free loft or cavity wall insulation. Simply ask them to call the energy supplier to arrange their free installation giving your name as their referee. Once the installation is complete, both you and the person you recommended will be paid £50 each. There’s no limit to the number of people you can recommend and you don’t even need to be a British Gas customer to qualify. Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive of National Energy Action, said of the scheme: “This offer aims to deliver energy-saving measures to the poorest households and at the same time reward those who are identifying and helping more vulnerable members of our communities.” Recent figures show that almost half of us live in houses lacking basic insulation.Yet loft and cavity wall insulation combined can save each household up to £310 a year in bills. House without insulation – red shows heat is wasted
Jon Kimber, Managing Director of British Gas New Energy, said: “With household budgets stretched, we know that people are looking at ways to save money. £1 in every £4 spent on heating is wasted due to poor insulation so we want to get people looking out for others who need help.” To qualify, the person you refer must be receiving either a state pension, child tax credits or one of a number of income-related benefits – and earning less than £16,190 a year. Anyone interested should call 0800 975 1195. Terms and conditions can be found at http://www.sharethewarmth.co.uk/terms
House with insulation – blue shows heat is retained
Correction from last month’s e-zine Last month we reported in the story about the RNLI lifeboat at Sheringham that any future donations should be sent to Unity Office, Manchester. This is incorrect – donations should instead be made payable to EAGC Lifeboat Fund and sent to Alison Adamson, Acacia House, 1 Kings Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2PF. Thanks for your support.
Special offer for members Members can take advantage of exclusive discount offers, available throughout the year. See below for details about one of the discounts available. To access other special offers, log on to the members’ section of the website www.oddfellows.co.uk and click on members’ benefits.
Offers 10% off French cooking holidays with Cook in France. Learn to cook the way you’ve always dreamed on one of these fun, friendly cooking holidays in South-West France. They offer flexible programmes to suit novice, intermediate and advanced cooks alike. And there’s no washing up to do either.
50% off limited edition Royal Wedding dolls from Arklu.com. Celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Princess Catherine with your very own collectable. Each doll is numbered and Arklu will make a £1 donation to the RNLI from each sale.
15% off over 15,000 designer led gifts, art and homeware at Bouf.com
Buy one get one free on 100% natural soluble food supplements from ‘Works with Water’. They’re scientifically proven to help maintain low cholesterol, blood pressure and healthy skin.
15% off comprehensive exercise programmes with Home Exercise and Rehab. These video programmes are suitable for all – whether you’re recovering from injury, have muscle or joint problems or just want to stay fit.
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