Oddfellows International Membership
Celebrity interview: Jonathan Ross In this issue: • Celebrity interview: Jonathan Ross • News from Denmark • George in the garden • Branch profile: Cardiff • … and much more
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Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
Oddfellows International Membership Welcome to the September edition of the monthly online magazine for Oddfellows members This month we speak to the acclaimed – and often controversial – chat show host Jonathan Ross. He reveals to us his big plans for his new TV show, as well as admitting he’d jump at the chance to interview Russell Brand one day.
And we have our usual selection of stories and features, including fantastic photos from our recent trip to the Fjords of Norway.
We travel to Denmark to find out about the eventful past and promising future of our overseas members.
We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoyed writing it. If you have a story to tell then why not share it? Email editorial@oddfellows.co.uk
This month’s Branch profile is Cardiff, so we head to Wales to see what’s going on.
Friendship month in full swing Our first annual Friendship month has got off to a flying start this September with Branches across the UK organising their friendship-themed events. The campaign was inspired by research that suggests people with more friends tend to be healthier and less stressed. Events so far include country walks, coffee mornings and a Mad Hatterʼs tea party. Thereʼs even been a Last of the Summer Wine fancy-dress evening. New members have joined as a result, with Branches from Bury to Blackburn welcoming new friends to the Society. And the month isnʼt over just yet. There are still lots more friendship events happening so contact events@oddfellows.co.uk or call 0800 028 1810 to find an event in your area. Alternatively you can follow us on Twitter (@the_oddfellows) or find us on Facebook.
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Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
Coffee morning raises hundreds for charity Oddfellows members around the country have been doing their bit for Help for Heroes, the charity that raises funds for members of the UK armed services wounded in the line of duty. One of the most successful recent events was a coffee morning hosted by the Leeds Oddfellows. The event, which took place at the Meanwood Institute on 9 September, surpassed all expectations by raising more than £600 for charity. Local Oddfellows members spent weeks preparing – among them Peggy Ashton (pictured), who brought homemade jam and knitted toys to sell. There was also a tombola, a cake stand and plenty of good conversation. Entry cost £1, and all money raised from the event went to the charity. Bryn Parry OBE, CEO and co-founder of Help for Heroes, said: “The Oddfellows’ wonderful fundraising is welcomed. They should be congratulated and, on behalf of all those the money benefits, thanked. Well done, Oddfellows – great effort!”
Mayor unveils major refurbishment at Oddfellows House The Rotherham Branch of the Oddfellows celebrated the completion of its newly refurbished home this month. Oddfellows House was officially reopened by the Mayor, Councillor Shaun Wright, on 6 September after a sustained period of investment in the Branch’s future. The ceremony marked the completion of two years’ work on the buildings during which time meeting rooms, offices and other facilities were extended and refurbished. Lesley Hall, the Branch’s Finance Officer, said: “Everyone who came along was offered a cup of tea and a bun and the chance to find out more about what it’s like to be a member.”
Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
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Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership
| March 2011 | Edition 03
Oddfellows International Membership Members go cruising on the Fjords A group of 16 Oddfellows headed to Southampton in July to board the Balmoral cruise liner and set sail for an eight-night cruise around Norway’s famous Fjords. The spectacular scenery made for an unforgettable experience, and three members even took to the skies for a helicopter ride. One of them, John Watson, said: “Flying so low over glaciers was so exciting. I’ll never forget it.” There were themed evenings throughout the trip such as rock and roll and international nights. The group also enjoyed its very own complimentary cocktail party. There were plenty of daytime activities too. Despite not playing golf, Wendy Atkins, group escort and Provincial Corresponding Secretary for Ipswich Branch, managed to win the putting competition. “Watch out, Tiger,” said Wendy after collecting her prize. The boules team played as well, and the quiz team also won three bottles of Champagne, so all in all the holiday was a resounding success. Wendy Atkins - Ipswich Branch
Watch the trip online! Did you know you can watch videos from the Norway Fjords trip on the Oddfellows Youtube® channel? Over 100 of you have watched it already and, what’s more, there are nearly 50 other videos to choose from. Why not check them out today? Or you can upload clips of your own Branch events for others to enjoy. So start filming and your videos could soon be being enjoyed by Oddfellows around the world! Go to Oddfellows Youtube® channel
Members about to embark on their flight
Contact events@oddfellows.co.uk for more information on uploading. The Balmoral cruise liner
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Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
Overseas Oddfellows
The values that shape the Oddfellows Society as we know it can be found all around the globe.
Below: some of the Oddfellows buildings around Denmark
One organisation that shares our ideals is the international Order of Oddfellows (IOOF), which was founded in 1819 in Baltimore, USA. It’s to this organisation that Oddfellows members in present-day Denmark can trace their roots. A nation of 5.5 million people, Denmark is spread across more than 400 islands, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Research has identified the country as the happiest in the world. Little wonder, then, that the concept of friendship as expressed through the Oddfellows has been a feature of life for more than 100 years. The IOOF’s founding principles – to support others in times of need and hardship – first reached Europe in the late 19th century, when the first Danish Branch was founded back in 1878 in Copenhagen. From those humble beginnings, the country’s membership has grown to over 14,500 today. They now meet at 205 Branches and their events are as popular as ever. Danish Oddfellows see their role in society as both practical and ethical. It’s not enough for them to simply regard their beliefs as theoretical – to them words alone are not enough. They aim to support their fellow members – and members of the public – in the way the IOOF’s founders did when they took their inspiration from their UK counterparts all those years ago. Like Oddfellows members anywhere in the world, they believe their efforts will encourage others to share the joys and benefits that Oddfellows membership brings.
Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
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Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership
| March 2011 | Edition 03
Oddfellows International Membership
The king of chat is back s the furore following Sachsgate finally settles, Jonathan Ross speaks to us about his highly anticipated new ITV chat show. Jonathan Ross was once the BBC's golden boy – earning a reported £18 million in a three-year deal that made him the channel's highest paid star.
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perform live," he says, having chosen Roxy Music to sing him out on his last BBC chat show appearance. He adds that his three teenage kids – Betty Kitten, Harvey Kirby and Honey Kinney – with his screenwriter wife Jane Goldman, influence his choice of guests.
Then one day in 2008, he and close friend Russell Brand decided to make a misjudged phone call to Fawlty Towers’ actor Andrew Sachs during Brand's Radio 2 show and boom, the good times were over. Ross bowed out from his acclaimed Friday night chat show last July and has kept a relatively low profile since, but now he's ready to make his return to prime time TV with a brand new chat show on ITV1.
"I know all the new Jessie J and Nicki Minaj stuff because of my kids," he says, adding that he returns the favour by sharing his favourite classics. "I make them listen to old music which sometimes they really enjoy but sometimes hate. "In the same way that I’ll watch almost anything, I'll listen to almost anything,” he admits. “But it’s great having my kids to help steer me in the right direction." Born in Camden, north London, Ross grew up in Leytonstone with his four brothers.
"We want it to be a good, big, fun entertainment show," says 50-year-old Ross ahead of the launch. "It's a once-a-week event, hopefully with the best guests in TV. We'll find out about them, but also see them relax and have a good time." Christening the new sofa will be Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker, Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton and multi-platinum selling artist Adele, who'll also perform a song from her chart-topping album, 21.
After graduating from the University of London, he experienced his first taste of television by working as a researcher for Channel 4's Loose Talk and later a show called Solid Soul, where he met Alan Marke. Together they devised Ross's breakthrough show The Last Resort With Jonathan Ross, which debuted in 1987.
"Adele is just about the biggest music star in the world right now, but also a lovely and very funny woman with a great story," says Ross, who admits he relishes the opportunity to meet his music idols. "There are so many talented people out there and I've been lucky enough to not only interview them but see them 6
The show was a world away from the polite presenting style of Alan Whicker or Terry Wogan and Ross admits a lot of his influences are American. "I love David Letterman, Johnny Carson when he was on, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel," he says. "Over here I used to love Parky when I was a kid growing up, but my favourite at the moment is Alan Carr [who used to be Ross's warm up act].
Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
Alan's sweet and fun. I love Alan, he's great." Though shortlived, The Last Resort catapulted Ross’s career and in the ensuing years he's hosted live spectacles including Comic Relief, The British Comedy Awards and The BAFTAs, as well as becoming a regular panellist on They Think It's All Over. Then in 1999, Ross took over from Barry Norman as host of the BBC’s film review programme, as well as beginning his own Radio 2 show. Finally, in 2001, his comedy chat show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross was launched. Irreverent in nature, it turned the presenter into a household name with viewers delighting in his ability to get famous names to relax and (usually) laugh at themselves. "As the interviewer it’s my job to put people at ease and bring the best out in them," says Ross. "I think it's important to let people know you're not there to attack them. If you need to ask them something that's difficult or awkward, you need to clear it in advance." He recalls interviewing Cheryl Cole shortly after her split from husband Ashley. "I said, 'Look, I'm going to have to ask you about this. I won't make the whole interview about it, but I have to ask', and Cheryl said it was fine. "I felt that was the polite thing to do and it would have been wrong to pretend it wasn't on the agenda. I try to be straight with people." He wants to continue in that vein on this latest venture. "My show isn't in-depth. If someone's had an upset in their life I might touch on it but then I move on. I like to keep my show light, to create a party atmosphere and for guests to have a good time," he says. As is the showbiz way, many of his interviewees have yet to be confirmed for the eight-part series, but Ross admits to having a wish list. "Mike Tyson would be fascinating and I'd love to interview Jack Nicholson, but he doesn't do TV shows. I've never interviewed Dame Judi Dench, so I'd love to, and also Maggie Smith." Then there's Hollywood's super couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. "I'm working on Brad because I've got friends who are friends of his," Ross reveals. And despite the past, he'd even like to get his Russell Brand on the sofa. "It would be great to get Russell and [his wife, the pop star] Katy on the show together, that would be good fun." Looking back on a career that's spanned almost 25 years, Ross takes a moment to weigh up his happiest interviews. "I've got loads of favourites and some of them I hope to get back on," he says. "I love Sylvester Stallone and Christopher Walken is always great fun.
The Ross family at the recent Harry Potter premier Ross is clearly a fan of the nation's great dames as Helen Mirren also gets a special mention. "She's great and is coming on the show again, and I also love Hugh Jackman who’s coming back on," says Ross. "The only problem with having Hugh on is that I know he feels inferior to me physically, in terms of looks, so I've decided to let myself go a little bit, in order to make him feel more at ease." Cheeky, charming and just a little bit childish, Ross may have changed channels but no doubt his chat show's going to be as controversial and entertaining as ever.
EXTRA TIME JONATHAN ROSS :: He was born on November 17, 1969, in London. :: His actress mum, Martha Ross, was a regular extra on EastEnders. :: Ross was reprimanded by the BBC for explicit comments he made to Gwyneth Paltrow during an interview in 2008. :: The talk show host was awarded an OBE in 2005. :: As a comic book fan, he recently launched his own called Turf, a crime-thriller set in Prohibition-era New York which features gangsters, vampires and aliens.
“Oddly, some people who you don't expect to be good fun turn out to be, like John Malkovich. I expected him to be very highbrow and quite serious about what he does, but in actual fact he was delightfully silly and relaxed."
Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
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Events Events newsletter newsletter for for the the Oddfellows Oddfellows International International Membership Membership || March March 2011 2011 || Edition Edition 03 09
Oddfellows International Membership Branch profile: Cardiff District This month we head west to the Welsh capital of Cardiff. Here Mary Sparks, Branch Secretary, takes us back in time to reveal the Society’s rich history in the city: The Cardiff Branch owes its origins to the ancient town of Caerphilly. In 1834 the St Cenydd Lodge was established there, followed by nine others in the surrounding area. In 1837 Cardiff’s first Branch – Castell Caerdydd Lodge – was opened. Membership grew and more lodges quickly followed. By the end of the 19th century Cardiff was thriving – and Oddfellowship was growing too. In 1899 the Oddfellows Hall and Institute was opened in Charles Street in the city centre to cater for the ever-increasing membership. Numbers continued to grow and by 1935 the Branch had over 10,000 members across over 40 Lodges. Many members benefited from the benevolence available to them long before the National Health Service came along in 1948. Members continued to meet at Charles Street until 1958 when they sold the building to Marks & Spencers. They then moved to Newport Road and have been there ever since. The history of their new home dates back to 1858. Its previous owners include the Consul of Spain and the Blood Transfusion service, which moved there in 1949. When the Oddfellows moved in nine years later, members had the macabre experience of finding pints of blood stored in the basement!
Mary Sparks
Prov GM Gloria James and husband John
Oddfellows House 2006
By 2005 the costs of maintaining the building became too much so the Branch decided to sell. However, it was sold with the assurance that the Oddfellows Society could rent part of the ground floor – and this is where we are today. Today Oddfellows House is the only original villa left in the area. The new owners have renovated the site and, although we now share the site with three other firms, the name Oddfellows House lives on. We currently have 550 members, one Financial Lodge and seven informal lodges. The Branch has members living in Brecon, Merthyr, Crickhowell, Aberdare, Abergavenny, Monmouth and Cowbridge – some of which are 40 miles away from Cardiff.
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Oddfellows House 2011
There is always plenty going on here, like birthday parties, fish and chip suppers and Royal event celebrations. Membership keeps growning and the Branch’s future is looking bright. To get involved or for more information call Mary on 029 20488585.
Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
Focus on: Cardiff This month’s Branch profile is Cardiff – the Welsh capital. So we’ve taken a trip to Wales to find out more about this small but fiercely proud city.
Home to nearly 350,000 people, Cardiff owes much of its prosperity to the industrial revolution. It grew rapidly thanks to the vast coal reserves in the nearby Welsh valleys, and, despite that industry’s decline, it remains an exciting and prosperous city today.
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff’s rich history
• The city dates back to 55AD, when its first Roman fort was built • It takes its name from the Roman general Aulus Didius. Caer Didi means Fort of Didius • In the late 19th century Cardiff became the largest coal-exporting port in the world. Its dominance peaked in 1913, when over 10 million tons of the black stuff passed through • Captain Scott set sail for the last time from here in 1910 – aboard his ship Terra Nova – heading for the South Pole • The city has hosted major sporting events including the 1958 Commonwealth Games and the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
Cardiff Bay waterfront
The big five attractions • Cardiff Castle – there is nearly 2,000 years of history here. You can see the Roman walls, Norman keeps and refurbished Victorian interiors • National Museum – home to one of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings outside Paris, including work by Monet and Cezanne • Millennium Stadium – you can tour the 74,000-seater stadium and even sit in the Queen’s seat in the Royal box
Millennium Centre
• Wales Millennium Centre – home to ballet, opera, dance and musicals • Techniquest – over 160 hands-on exhibits inside to entertain the whole family, including a planetarium.
Information and photos courtesy of www.visitcardiff.com
Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
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Oddfellows International Membership Local recipe
Welshcakes
Welshcakes are always a delicious treat. They’re similar to English scones but much tastier. They were originally cooked on the hot plate of a coal oven but can easily be cooked in a heavy non-stick frying pan or on a griddle. Fabulous Welshcakes, in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff, makes world-famous Welshcakes. The recipe is top secret, but here’s a similar recipe for Oddfellows readers to make at home. Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 6 minutes Total time: 21 minutes Ingredients: 8 oz/ 225g self-raising flour 4 oz/ 100g butter 1 tsp mixed spice 3 oz/ 75g caster sugar 3 oz/ 75g mixed sultanas and currants Pinch of salt The grated rind of half a lemon 1 large beaten egg A touch of milk to blend if needed Preparation: Sieve the flour, salt and spice into a mixing bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar, lemon rind and dried fruit and mix. Pour in the beaten egg and stir to make a firm dough, adding a tiny dash of milk if the dough looks too dry. Add the milk in small amounts to avoid making the dough too sloppy. Roll the dough to approximately 5mm thick. Cut into squares or circles with a 5cm cutter. Fry the Welshcakes on a medium-hot griddle for approximately three minutes per side, turning once, until nicely golden brown on both sides. It should still be slightly soft in the middle. If you do not have a griddle then use a lightly buttered, heavy-base frying pan. Finish by dusting with caster sugar while still hot. Welshcakes are best eaten hot but will keep for up to 10 days in an airtight container. You can also serve them with lightly whipped fresh cream and preserves. If all this cooking is just too much for you, head to Cardiff and look up Fabulous Welshcakes (www.fabulouswelshcakes.com), where Jo Roberts will be delighted to serve you the special in-house recipe. She still won’t tell you how they make them, though!
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Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
George in the garden Top tips from our resident gardener
September is the month that brings the first signs of autumn. We might get our first frost this month, and it’s the time to plant a new lawn or pick some apples for cooking. My favourite plant right now The Michaelmas daisy is lovely at the moment. It’ll grow almost anywhere; just work the soil well before planting and add compost to help it grow. Ballard is a good variety with a wonderful selection of colours. Blue Wood is another nice one, and Violet Queen is a sturdy plant for the front of your herbaceous border. Flower garden It’s time to cut back your herbaceous borders and tidy them up before the winter. Cut down your dahlias now and store them inside a greenhouse or shed. Turn them upside-down so that any moisture in the stem runs out and it dries completely. Be careful with dahlias during the winter as they are very popular and expensive to replace. Lawn Sow your lawn this month to avoid it drying out. Seed sowing is the cheapest and best way to do it. Work your soil well first – fork it, rake it, roll it, then rake it again. The surface should be nice and level with no divots for potential water-logging. Use 40 grams of seed for each square metie of lawn. If it’s a feature lawn then use a seed with no rye-grass in it. But if it’s a lawn for playing on then use a mixture of half rye-grass and half brown-top for a good allweather, all-purpose surface. If you need a lawn in a hurry then turf is the answer. Prepare the soil as you would for seeds, then lay the turf like a bricklayer laying bricks so that the joints
interlock. Make sure it’s laid firm and it’ll then look after itself. Vegetable garden It’s a quiet month in the vegetable garden. Keep your eye on your plants and continue harvesting your autumnal crops. Your onions will be ready so lift them and store them somewhere to dry until the tops wither. Once dry, cut off the tops and store the onions in a cool dry place until you need them. Fruit garden Pick your Bramley apples now and you can keep them until next Easter in a frost-proof place. Howgate Wonder is a newer, sweeter variety that doesn’t require much sugar when you cook it. If you find your Bramley tree grows too vigorously then the Howgate Wonder is a more compact tree that crops well. Pick your pears now too. Winter Nellis is a good strain that you can store until Christmas. But Doyenne du Comice is the aristocrat of pears. It’s sweet, beautifully flavoured and so juicy that eating it can be a messy business – well worth growing. Secrets to improve your patch • Keep your dahlia cuttings in a frost-proof place like a cellar or shed and insulate with foam or carpet •
When you cut your dahlias, use a fork so you don’t damage the bulb or roots
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One Michaelmas daisy can give you seven good years before you need to replant it
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When you split your Michaelmas daisies, separate the young outer shoots from the older middle wood for best results
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Try growing your pear tree against a south-facing wall for better crops.
Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09
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