the Oddfellow Spring 2008 by Oddfellows

MAGAZINE

Spring 2008 www.oddfellows.co.uk

W IN SEE PAGE 27 FOR DETAILS

Saving lives SHERINGHAM’S NEW FIRST-CLASS LIFEBOAT

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

genesis appeal

Fundraising ideas aplenty – from popping balloons to pink champagne

THE JOYS OF RAMBLING

Fresh air, healthy exercise, and all the beauties of nature for the whole family

ACTIVE TRAVEL CLUB

West End theatre trip, Summer holiday 2008, and Active Travel Club update

Contents Glossary of traditional terms In the past 200 years the Society has developed traditional terms that you may come across. For those unfamiliar with them, here is a brief guide: • Grand Master of the Order (GM) Chairman of the Society • Provincial Grand Master (Prov GM) District Chairman • Provincial Corresponding Secretary (Prov CS) District Secretary • Immediate Past Provincial Grand Master (IPPGM) Immediate Past District Chairman • Past Provincial Grand Master (PPGM) Past District Chairman • Noble Grand (NG) Branch Chairman • Most Worthy Master Chairman of the Provincial Lodge of Past Grands • Provincial Lodge of Past Grands A group of members particularly interested in the history and meaning of ceremony, who have all been Noble Grands • Sister and Brother The Oddfellows is a fraternal organisation: membership is like belonging to a family. Many members refer to each other as Brother and Sister • Initiation The welcoming ceremony • Annual Movable Conference (AMC) The governing body of the Society that meets annually

Welcome To your new-look Oddfellows magazine

s you will no doubt have noticed from the cover, we have given the Oddfellow a spring clean, with a new look and some extra pages. We hope you will like it, and find the magazine more entertaining and useful than ever, reflecting all the benefits of membership of our unique Society. Congratulations are in order to all of you for your wonderful fundraising efforts. The new lifeboat at Sheringham, featured on the cover, is the fruit of your labour, not forgetting your contribution to the Genesis Appeal – read about it on page 5. We also know how keen you are to try new experiences, so we have included articles on rambling, family history, and surfing the internet. We always welcome any feedback, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. With our very best wishes, The Editorial Team.

CONTENTS 4 NEWS

18 silver surfers

All the latest news from the world of Oddfellowship – plus an update on our charitable fundraising

It’s never too late to start surfing the internet

6 campaign

Find out about our loan offers

Our new lifeboat, The Oddfellows, is launched at Sheringham in north Norfolk

8 out & about

21 CREDIT UNION 22 workers IN ODDFELLOWSHIP Meet our Society’s stalwart workers

Social and fundraising activities around the Branches

23 In Memoriam

12 rambling

24 HISTORy

Mary Daulton, an Oddfellows member from Lincolnshire, shares her love of the great outdoors

How to trace your family history; plus read all about George Holyoake

14 care

A Journey of Hope reviewed; plus previews, literary quiz and puzzle

Making the best of surgery; healthy eating quiz; how to cope with bereavement; meet the Oddfellows ‘Branch Buddies’; how to avoid scammers

Departed Brothers and Sisters

26 BOOK CLUB

28 ACTIVE TRAVEL CLUB London theatre trip report; Christmas offers; plus Active Travel Club update The Oddfellow

News

Genesis

Celebrating 200 Years

n 2010 the Oddfellows will celebrate its 200th anniversary. To mark the occasion we plan to produce a book, to represent this important milestone in the Society’s history. The book will document the role of the Society and the changes it has gone though in the past two centuries, focusing specifically on the last 100 years. To make it as relevant and interesting as possible we would like to hear your memories of the Society. These will, where possible, be incorporated into the text. The book is an opportunity to record your stories and memories of the Society, and we would like to know: l Why you joined the Oddfellows l A little information about your family history being part of the Oddfellows l Whether you have any photographs or

interesting memorabilia of the Society to share l Can you tell us about any memorable characters or events? l Is there anything else that you think would make an interesting read for fellow members? If you’d like to take part, write a brief outline of your best memories (no more than 500 words) and send it in to us. We may contact you to arrange a telephone interview. Please only send copies of photographs of any memorabilia. Write to Oddfellows 2010, c/o Ian Wallace, Oddfellows House, 40 Fountain Street, Manchester, M2 2AB or e-mail Ian.Wallace@oddfellows.co.uk Alternatively, call 0161 832 9361.

A very big thank-you to all the members who took the time to fill out and return the membership satisfaction survey that was included in the previous issue of the magazine. More than 4,000 responses were received and generally they were extremely positive. Overall members rated meetings and social events as very good with many praising representatives from their local Branches. Communication with local Branches was also rated as very good overall, with the friendliness of the Branch scoring the highest. Popular words that people used when talking about their Branch were friendly, efficient, helpful and excellent. If any responses included specific concerns about a particular issue, these concerns were passed on to the Membership Services team for resolving. Suggestions were also made for further improving the Society and these will be presented to the Board of Directors for discussion. Once again, a big thank-you to all who took part – your time is appreciated!

Members become models for a day

embers from the Huddersfield District became models for a day when they volunteered to take part in a photoshoot to create a range of photographs that will be used in future Oddfellows marketing material. We are always keen to use photographs of real Oddfellows members in all our publications and literature wherever possible and the photoshoot has enabled us to build on our existing photolibrary, which was created at a similar event in Bury St Edmunds. The photoshoot, at the Oddfellows Hall in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, was great fun and everyone soon relaxed and became used to being in the spotlight. There was a good The Oddfellow

cross-section of models, with some longstanding members as well as others who had recently joined during the latest recruitment campaign. Committee members from

Brighouse Branch, who were still recovering from their Christmas lunch earlier in the day, looked after everyone and made sure they were pampered just like real models!

In the pink

Members from across the country raised money in many a fun way for the Genesis Appeal

Fun Pink Quiz Listed below are six questions all inspired by the word pink. Why not organise your own quick fundraising quiz? You could either use these questions or make up your own and charge 50p – £1 for each person to take part.

undraising is still ongoing to reach the £180,000 that the Society has pledged for the lecture theatre at the Nightingale Centre and Genesis Prevention Centre, and as usual our Branches have been doing a sterling job organising events to raise the money. A whole host of pink-themed events were held across the country during October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, bringing in hundreds of pounds for the appeal. Derby District led the way with its various social groups, including the line dancers, carpet bowlers, walking group and luncheon club, all entering the spirit by wearing pink items of clothing (some quite extravagant!) at their gatherings, raising £271 for the worthy cause. Richmond (Surrey) District had a novel way of raising £100 – a Pop-a-Balloon competition where members paid £1 to pop a pink balloon. There were 100 balloons to choose from, all contained a slip of paper; some with prizes on and some saying ‘Sorry, try again’. North London District held a Supper and Fun Night on Saturday 27 October where 36 members and friends attended,

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each wearing an item of pink clothing. A total of £255 was raised. Ipswich District hosted its annual photo competition, which was combined with a fish-and-chip supper and a Deal or No Deal raffle on Tuesday 30 October. The venue was decorated with pink balloons and streamers, members also wore pink, and £102 was raised. A pink raffle consisting of solely pink prizes, such as champagne, flowers and biscuits, raised £40 at Canterbury District’s Cheriton and Newington Hand in Hand Branch where members all wore pink. Fundraising for the Genesis Appeal wasn’t confined to October, though. Capital of the Fens had a Christmas Coffee morning in December for the Genesis Appeal, and the Society’s Chairman, Keith Adamson and his wife Alison, held a BBQ on New Year’s Eve to raise money for the charity. Secretary of the Leigh and Bolton District, Linda Stone, is raising money for the Genesis Appeal all year round by collecting used postage stamps. If you have any stamps that you would like to donate please send them to 34 Broadway, Irlam, Manchester, M44 6BS.

1. Which famous pink and white cat had friends which included Professor Yaffle and the mice? 2. What fruit juice is added to a Cosmopolitan cocktail to give it its pink colour? 3. Where do flamingos get their pink colouring from? 4. Which London Underground line is pink? 5. Which country’s president lives in ‘the pink house’? 6. What was the name of the film in which actor Peter Sellers played the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau? ANSWERS 1) Bagpuss, 2) Cranberry juice, 3) The food they eat, 4) Hammersmith & City, 5) Argentina, 6) Pink Panther

Your views help the Society improve

Richmond District raised £100 with a novel Pop-a-Balloon competition – members paid £1 to pop a pink balloon.

The Oddfellow

News

The Oddfellows saves lives at sea

Sailors or swimmers who run into trouble off the north Norfolk coast now have an even faster lifeboat to come to their rescue, thanks to the Oddfellows

heringham’s new Atlantic 85 inshore boat – The Oddfellows – cuts up to a third of the time it takes for the RNLI to reach anyone struggling in the sea, and is also the first of its kind to become operational in the region. The £135,000 boat replaces the station’s previous Atlantic 75 model, called The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, which will now become one of the RNLI’s relief fleet. The new boat can reach up to 35 knots and is equipped with a radar and an innovative VHF radio direction finder, which means it should reach people in need more quickly. The Oddfellow

Since the boat was officially named by Oddfellows Chairman Keith Adamson and his wife Alison, at a ceremony in September, it has already been called out on emergencies off the north Norfolk Coast around 10 times. The Sheringham lifeboat station opened in 1838, when a private lifeboat was placed at Sheringham and a boathouse was built in the village. The RNLI took over the lifeboat station in 1867 and a boathouse was built at the eastern end of the town. So far the lifeboat station has seen 505 launches and saved 320 lives. In 1994 it received the first RNLI Atlantic 75 station lifeboat, and later that year in November

The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was involved in the decade’s largest air-sea search of the north Norfolk coast after a mayday call was received. Its 18 current crew members have all received training for the new 8.3m boat, which is manned by four lifeboatmen, as opposed to the three crewmen carried in the previous boat. In addition, the Oddfellows funded a £68,000 new drive-on, drive-off carriage for the boat (pictured above). “We have been associated with the Sheringham Lifeboat Station for over 45 years,” said Keith, “and we are delighted to provide it with the latest class of lifeboat, which should ensure they continue to provide a first-class rescue service. ” At the naming ceremony in September, The Oddfellows boat showed off its capabilities to a crowd of more than 150,

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RIGHT Society Chairman Keith Adamson, his wife, Alison, and the town cryer

including RNLI members, local dignitaries, Oddfellows and members of the public. Chairman Keith officially handed the new boat over to RNLI Vice President Kim Woodhouse, who said it had already proved its worth during an operation to rescue four divers last month. In addition, Keith opened Sheringham’s old lifeboat house, Oddfellows Hall. The Hall, built in 1867, now becomes a community centre, after standing idle for 14 years. Boasting a new boat-shaped

We have been associated with Sheringham for over 45 years. I am honoured to be opening the hall.

entrance, the 140-person capacity centre, on Sheringham’s Promenade, will allow local businesses and groups to hold meetings and exhibitions. Keith said: “Sheringham is a town with history in abundance and I am honoured to open the hall. It is a privilege to open a building where the long tradition of RNLI lifeboats in Sheringham was first started.” The Oddfellow

Out & About

Out & About Charles Hewitt Branch Barbecue The Charles Hewitt Branch held its annual barbecue in the garden of its North London District premises, on Sunday 1 July 2007. More than 40 members and friends enjoyed the culinary delights prepared by the ladies of the Lodge and cooked by Albert Khalawan. Wine and beer flowed, thanks to Ron Moulder, and we raised £50 for the Genesis Appeal.

Lincolnshire – A crackling night for all In May, members of the Lincoln Branch got together for a sizzling night of racing fun at Holy Cross Church Hall in Lincoln.

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Looking for Elvis Former South London District Chairman Peter Kearnes decided to celebrate his 60th birthday by travelling to Memphis, Tennessee, to pay homage to the late, great Elvis Presley on the 30th anniversary of his death. While Peter was over there he decided to visit the Oddfellows Hall. It is rumoured that although Elvis wasn’t a member of the Society himself, many of his friends were, and he used to pop by to join them for the occasional game of pool.

Kent – Children’s Christmas Party The Christmas Party for the Cinque Ports Warden District was a huge success, with more than 30 children coming along to be entertained by Mr Chuckles the clown, who thrilled them with various tricks and jokes. Many of the children also had great fun getting lost in the big balloon. The District hopes to be able to put on something similar again later this year, so make sure you keep your eye out for details. The Oddfellow

Members and friends pitted their wits against each other for prizes, placing bets on who could bring home the bacon first. However, unlike other popular pig-racing events in the country, there wasn’t actually a swine in sight!

Members pitted their wits against each other for prizes, placing bets on who could bring home the bacon first – even though there wasn’t a swine in sight!

Yorkshire – Four York Alls Get Together On 10 May, Vale of York members made their way again to the Four York AIls on Scarborough Road. As ever, lunch was simply delicious. There were some new faces this year, but everyone soon got to know one another. The food was first class and the landlord gave us two bottles of best wine. They raised £22 for the Genesis Appeal and after lunch, had the Fun Quiz – there were two new champions.

Southampton – A Sprightly Centenarian Bristol – Autumn in the Garden of England Swindon members took their annual holiday in East Anglia, accompanied by some of the members of the Bristol District, who are all members of the Great Western Lodge. A great time was had by all, including a paddle-steamer trip on the Norfolk broads. And there was some fantastic entertainment in the evening, much of the talent home-grown. On the Monday morning they visited Norwich and Sandringham Lavender Farms, which was a great success.

Southampton District celebrated the 100th birthday of one of the oldest members of the Princess Royal Branch. Mrs C Crouch, from

Marchwood, reached the milestone on April 2007, and was visited by David Redhead, on behalf of the Princess Royal Branch trustees.

Summer trip to Llandudno The St Helens and Warrington District enjoyed a lovely summer’s day in Llandudno. More than 40 members went on the trip which called on the way at Tweedmill, St Asaph for morning coffee and tea. On reaching Llandudno members split into groups with some opting to shop, some went up the Great Orme and others just enjoyed a stroll along the pier and the promenade in the baking sun. The Oddfellow

Out & About

Mid Surrey – Sporting Medals

Cardiff – Windsor Trip

Durham – Finchale Training College Visit A visit to Durham’s Finchale Training College proved enthralling to members from the North-East. They were given an interesting, instructive and informative talk on the history of the Centre, endless cups of tea and biscuits, a demonstration on how to fill colourful hanging baskets and a tour of the greenhouses where

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students grow plants that they will then sell. Members (from Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria) bought plants, tubs and ready-made hanging baskets. Everyone felt they had gained useful tips and ideas and asked for a return visit to be booked. A hanging basket was raffled and won by Paula Bradley from Washington.

At Durham’s Finchale Training College members were given a demonstration on how to fill colourful hanging baskets.

The Cardiff District were picked up by coach outside Oddfellows House, and on the way, members and friends were given an envelope containing a map of places of interest, and a quiz. When they arrived at Windsor, many members decided to take a short boat ride on the Thames, while others went all the way to London. Some visited the castle, and there was just enough time for ice cream and a spot of shopping. Feedback was excellent, and many have expressed an interest in our next trip, set for June.

North London – Visitors from Finland The North London District hosted a commemoration visit by 42 members of the American and Rebekah Orders in Finland at a special meeting held in the The Pride of Islington Branch. The Branch was laid out in full regalia and Olna Manyan, Past Provincial Grand Master, presented the organiser of the visit, Antti Lahtinen, Chairman of the Porkkala Branch in Finland, with an engraved block and gavel.

Handforth and Altrincham – Anderton Boat Trip It was a rather soggy Saturday, but perfect, it seems, for cruising. Sixteen members enjoyed a lovely cruise on a glass-topped boat on the River Weaver Navigation, followed by a fascinating tour through the Anderton Boat Lift. The boat lift was re-opened in 2002 after a £7 million restoration programme.

Worcester – Harvest Supper Raises Cash for Charity The Annual Supper took place at the Magdalene room, St Georges Hall, Worcester on 23 September. Some 47 members attended the short traditional service conducted by the Reverend Duncan Ballard. Afterwards a fish-and-chip supper was enjoyed by all. Members thank Kath for 10 The Oddfellow

the delicious apple pie and custard, and to the many Worcester ladies who laid out the room and ensured everyone was well supplied with drinks. Bob Callow ran the tombola, and an auction of produce raised £64 for the HA Andrews fund.

There was cause for celebration in the Mid Surrey District when young Oddfellow, James Hill of the Dorking Branch, won two medals at an international Taekwondo tournament in Hemel Hempstead. James, who is 12 years old and has been an Oddfellow since birth, won a gold medal in the team sparring event and a bronze medal in the individual category. Grandparents Phill and Mary Alderman were very proud.

St Marnock Christmas Dinner The Fenwick Hotel hosted the St Marnock Branch Christmas Dinner, with 36 members and friends gathering for a festive feed and some fun. Attendance has more than doubled over the past few years and everyone had an extremely fun time. The food and wine were lovely, the company was great and the impromptu entertainment was the icing on the cake.

Salisbury District Lunch On Sunday 16 September 2007, the Salisbury District held its Annual Luncheon at the Emblems Restaurant in Fovant, near Salisbury. The event was hosted by the Provincial Grand Master, Jacqueline Jackson. Jean Baldwin spoke briefly about her year in office as President, and she also explained that Arnold was in line to be her Vice President, until his resignation from the Southern Group Conference Executive. An excellent lunch was enjoyed by some 42 members and friends from some six districts.

The Oddfellow 11

Lifestyle

These boots

are made for walking

There’s nothing like scenery, fresh air and friendship to lift the spirits, says one keen rambler

“I

t’s nice to get away from it all, go somewhere peaceful where you can listen to the birds singing and the babbling of the brooks. It’s good for the soul,” says Mary Daulton, an Oddfellows member with the Boston and Lincolnshire District. Just like many of the Society’s members, Mary is a keen walker and she likes nothing better than being out in the fresh air, admiring the views and appreciating the natural beauty of the British countryside whilst doing a little bit of exercise. Rambling is the perfect way to keep fit and the scenery on offer is much more invigorating than the inside of a gymnasium, although Mary laughs: “When we walk, we’ll head off, but soon stop for

Walking is something everybody can do and at their own level. One of the best things about it is the companionship.

elevenses, do a bit more walking and then finish in a pub. So, it’s not quite as healthy as it should be!” Mary explained how her passion for the pastime, which she shares with her husband, Brian, first came about: “It was about 40 years ago when we started caravanning. Once you got up in a morning you were there and you could just walk straight out and be off for the day. “Derbyshire was always a favourite place to go. I loved going to Tideswell and Monsal Head, and there’s Clumber Park in

WEBSITES www.ramblers.org.uk The Ramblers is Britain’s largest walking charity. It organises hundreds of group walks all over Great Britain, from short local strolls to bracing hillside treks. www.ldwa.org.uk Join The Long Distance Walkers’ Association where you’ll get to meet other like-minded, long distance walkers. The Association provides information on walking events and long distance walking routes all over the UK. www.bwf-ivv.org.uk The British Walking Federation organises walking events for people of all ages and abilities. ABOVE Surrounded by natural beauty

12 The Oddfellow

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Nottinghamshire, too.” The best walks are the ones where other activities can be incorporated into the day according to Mary: “We’d go to Tideswell for a walk, but also to see the well dressings, which were always really nice.” Combining rambling with caravanning has given Mary and Brian the opportunity to have days out and weekends away in different parts of the country whilst taking in the local history and culture such as Tideswell’s well dressings. However, the walking doesn’t have to involve excursions to challenging terrain; it can be just as enjoyable in the local area. Hartsholme Park, which lies just outside of Lincoln and consists of Victorian landscaped gardens, a large reservoir and woodlands, is also a regular spot for Mary. “It’s all on a level so it’s easy for everyone to get round and it’s a lovely place to go to, especially in the summer. We’ll usually walk around the lake and then pop into the café afterwards. It’s a nice, relaxing day out.” Due to this, Mary was confident that rambling really can offer something for everyone. She added: “It’s something everybody can do and they can do at their own level. If you can find a group to walk with that’s ideal because one of the best things about walking is the companionship.”

Have you got a hobby or pastime that you’d like to share with other Oddfellows members? If so, why not drop the magazine a line? Email magazine@oddfellows.co.uk

Care

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The system can appear confusing – everybody should wear a name badge with their job title clearly stated.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Surgery, healthy eating, bereavement, osteoarthritis

How to:

survive surgery Feeling anxious about an impending operation? Read our how-to guide and you’ll soon wonder what the fuss was all about

hen you have been told that you need an operation, you may be feeling very anxious about everything to do with a hospital admission. Maybe you’ve had anxiety about everything from the operation to the lack of privacy, or even the risk of coming out feeling more unwell than when you went in. If this sounds like you, read on... The risks Don’t get over anxious when all the risks of surgery are explained to you, or you may end up feeling that it 14 The Oddfellow

would be better to leave well enough alone. Although hospital staff can be upfront and honest, it does not mean that operations are riskier than they used to be. Nowadays doctors are obliged to tell you of any possible risks before they can obtain your consent. (Try reading the cautions on a pack of paracetamol and see if you would still take them!) Staff When you are admitted, the system can appear confusing at first. There are many different grades of doctors and nurses, and so many other staff

HEALTHY EATING QUIZ

such as radiographers or physiotherapists. Everyone should wear a name badge with their job title clearly stated. If you have any questions about the ward ask your ‘named nurse’ – that’s your contact while you are on the ward. If you are not happy with their response, or they are not on that shift, ask the ward sister. If you have any queries regarding your operation, ask the house officer, who is the most junior doctor, and who will undertake all the routine tasks associated with your operation. He or she will refer you to the registrar. All decisions about your medical treatment lie with the consultant who admitted you, although they will delegate to their second-in-command, the registrar.

Be prepared Obtain all the information about the hospital, the surgeon and the operation itself and ask lots of questions before you agree to having the operation. Ask your general practitioner about the hospital and the surgeon’s reputation or do your own research on the internet. Talk to NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit their website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk Contact the hospital and ask for a preadmission leaflet with basic information about clothes to bring in, visiting times, and so on. Only sign the operation consent form when you have understood everything and all your questions have been answered. These days, those working in a hospital are used to people wanting as much information as possible. The doctor and the anaesthetist will both come and talk to you before your operation – this is a further opportunity to clarify your concerns. Don’t forget, you can withdraw your consent at any time before the operation, even after you have signed the consent form. Superbugs So much has been written about these, but on the whole, they can be avoided by simple handwashing. That means a thorough scrub for a good 15 seconds, including between any rings. This

means patients, visitors and all members of staff who deal with you. Tell the ward sister if you feel the ward isn’t clean enough.

HEALTHY EATING QUIZ

After the operation You should not have to suffer severe pain after an operation. Ask to see the ward sister who will arrange for a doctor to come and look at you. They will ask you to rate your pain on a scale of intensity from 1 to 10 (1 being mild, 10 being severe). Obviously most people cannot wait to be discharged from hospital, but make sure you are aware of certain facts first (see below). You have the right to discharge yourself from hospital, but if the doctors feel that this isn’t advisable, they will try to persuade you to stay. If you still want to leave then you will have to sign a form to say that you are leaving against all advice. If you have any doubts, concerns or further problems after you leave hospital, consult your hospital doctor, or your GP.

We all know that we should be eating plenty of healthy fruit and veg (five portions a day), but what else do you know about diet? Take the NHS Direct quiz – the answers may surprise you!

For any information on medical conditions, visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Check out the tips on healthy eating and nutrition at www.eatwell.gov.uk or www.nutrition.org.uk

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE DISCHARGE • What will be the course of your recovery/illness when you return home? • Do you need to take any prescribed medication? • Who will dress any wounds after you are discharged from hospital?

• When do you need to attend your follow-up appointment in outpatients to check that all is progressing as it should? • Will you be able to manage at home? If you feel you may not, ask for a pre-discharge planning meeting with the medical staff.

1. Some portions are easy to calculate, but do you know many frozen peas make one portion? a) 3 heaped tablespoons b) 3 heaped teaspoons 2. Do tinned or frozen fruits and vegetables count towards your five-a-day? a) No b) Yes 3. Ready meals can contain a lot of fat, salt and sugar, so can they still count towards your five-a-day? a) Yes b) No 4. Is it possible to choose healthy options from a fast-food menu? a) Yes b) No 5. Can you eat five-a-day on a budget? a) Yes b) No ANSWERS 1. a) 2. b) – yes, but varieties with no added salt or sugar are best 3. a) – yes, but you should only eat ready meals now and again, and pick reduced fat, sugar and salt options 4. a) – yes: salad with your pizza or a piece of fruit for dessert can count towards your five-a-day 5. a) – yes, you can make a large healthy vegetable stew for less than the price of a takeaway pizza The Oddfellow 15

Care

‘Branch Buddy’ Care competition

I Scheming! A guide to beating the scammers

scam is a scheme designed to con you out of your money and can take many forms; bogus lotteries, get-rich-quick schemes, fake health cures, and premiumrate competition calls.

Bereavement Not everyone is going to feel the same and it may take time

as someone you know passed away? Does a friend need your support after losing someone? Death is inevitable, but it still causes us untold grief. Everyone responds differently, but there are some feelings that we are likely to share and are normal reactions to a loss: l I can’t believe it. It may take time to take in what has happened and accept that someone is never coming back. l It’s too cruel and unfair. l I’m completely overwhelmed and can’t function properly. l I feel so guilty about the things I did (or didn’t do). l I feel so low and don’t want to carry on. l It’s been months since it happened and I can’t seem to get over it. l One minute I’m fine and the next I’m bursting into tears. 16 The Oddfellow

There is no magic formula to overcoming a bereavement, but the following have been shown to be helpful: l Receiving letters from friends and relatives who knew the person who passed away, and keeping in touch with those people. l Talking about the person so that you feel they are not forgotten. l Facing people and talking openly about the death, not avoiding the subject. l Asking people for practical help – it’s difficult to make decisions at this time. Ask for help with arranging the funeral, letting people know. l Some people need to be kept busy while others need a period of quiet reflection – we are all different. l Don’t sort out the person’s belongings straight away – your priorities about what to keep may change over time.

Keep the things that remind you of the good times you shared. l Talking to a CRUSE counsellor – they can provide one-to-one sessions or group sessions for emotional, practical and financial information. The service is free, but donations are always welcome. Call 0844 477 9400. l If you feel you are really not coping, make an appointment with your GP. A short course of medication may be helpful to get over the initial period of grief.

If you would like a free leaflet produced by Help the Aged on bereavement, containing emotional and practical advice, please contact the Care Department on 0845 606 3102.

l Miracle ‘cure’ for your medical problems l Easy loans regardless of your credit rating l Work from home schemes, where you have to purchase all materials first Don’t:

How to recognise a scam

The scammers will: l Offer you something for nothing l Contact you out of the blue l Sound pleasant and friendly l Have professional letters and leaflets and web sites l Be persistent l Rush you into making a decision l Ask you for money before you receive anything The scam can take many forms: l You have won a large prize in a draw or lottery l You have exclusive entry to a sure fire way to make money – shares, wines and ‘rare’ items l You can have a cut of someone’s money that is tied up in another country

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Be sceptical! If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

l Send any money up front. (They may ask to be paid for so-called administration charges or tax. Don’t be fooled!) l Give out your personal or bank details l Ring an expensive premium rate number - in the UK these numbers often begin with 090 l Buy something in order to obtain your prize Do:

l Be sceptical! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is l Report the scam to ‘Consumer Direct’ on 08454 04 05 06 l Stop junk mail being delivered by registering with the Mail Preference Service on 0845 703 4599 l Reduce unwanted sales calls to your home by registering with the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 070 0707 l Consult your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing any miracle cure If you would like a leaflet from the Office of Fair Trading on how to beat the scammers, call the Care Department on 0845 606 3102 or write to Unity Office at 40 Fountain St, Manchester M2 2AB.

n the last issue of The Oddfellow, we ran a competition asking members to submit suggestions for a new name for our volunteer Branch Welfare Officers. Thank you to all who responded – we had almost 100 suggestions! All the names went to the Fraternal Board to choose their favourite. The winning name is ‘Branch Buddy’, and the winner comes from the Exeter District. It was felt that the term is friendly and welcoming and is not as official sounding as Branch Welfare Officer. So, well done Exeter! As a generic term, the Society will use the term ‘Branch Visitor’ for their volunteers, but Branches may prefer to use ‘Branch Buddy’. Our volunteers play a vital role within the Society, contacting those members who require help when solving a problem. We have 275 volunteers throughout the Society, who solve problems and offer help in some way. Don’t forget, the Care Department can also offer support when dealing with a particularly knotty problem. We would like to offer our thanks to our Branch Visitors for all the work they do, often in difficult circumstances, to make our members’ lives better.

Did you know? • Men have an average life 75.7 expectancy of 80.4 and women of years and • 67% of men are 58% of women obese The Oddfellow 17

Lifestyle

Surf ’s up! The internet may be unknown territory, but armed with a home computer and a little know-how you’ll be online in no time

ou don’t need to be a touch typist to join the internet revolution, nor do you need in-depth technical knowledge. Anyone can become proficient in a few hours. Maybe you’re worried about the expense, or your lack of knowledge? Well, help is at hand with our guide to getting online and stepping into a new world. According to figures from the UK National Office of Statistics, in 2006, 50 per cent of people between the ages of 55 to 64 had used a computer to access the internet, with the figure falling to 15 per cent for those who are 65 and older. It may seem daunting at first, but you’re missing out by not being online. Communication, convenience, information – a whole world is literally at your fingertips, so get surfing! Hardware and software First thing to decide is what type of computer you want – a desktop (known as a PC) that has large screen, a big keyboard for typing, but takes up more space? Or a laptop, that’s light and portable, but with a fiddlier keyboard and smaller screen? Once you’ve chosen your machine – your hardware – then it’s time to decide what you want it to do. Software is the name for all the tools the computer uses to make things happen, so you can have software for word processing or drawing for instance. If you want to use your computer for something big, like making music, it will need a large processing memory (known as RAM). If you’re just sending e-mails or letter writing, it will need less. Decide this when you buy to get a cheaper package, rather than lots of fiddly add-ons later.

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Getting started All laptops and desktops come with clear instructions on setting up. The manufacturers also provide technical phone support. If you don’t have a computer at home, and don’t plan to buy one, then get online at your local library or internet café. Libraries also have information on local classes where you can learn computer and internet basics. Online action There are two ways of accessing the internet: dial-up or broadband. With dial-up you use your telephone line (slow and expensive), whereas a broadband connection is much faster and leaves your phone free for calls. Contact one of the many internet service providers (ISPs) such as BT or Virgin. There’s plenty of competition right now, so you could pick up a good deal combining phone, internet and TV. Broadband is very easy to set up and if you get wireless then you’re no longer tied to a socket and restrictive cabling. You can use your computer in any room in the house – and even in the garden if the signal is strong enough. Statistics show that in 2007, of all households with internet access in the UK, more than 84 per cent had broadband. Training for older surfers Internet users over the age of 50 have been nicknamed Silver Surfers, and last year saw the first ever UK Silver Surfer week. Local community organisations held training sessions at online centres across the country, where older surfers had their first taste of the internet. There are more than 6,000

Staying in touch is so much easier via e-mail – forget the inefficient post.

18 The Oddfellow

UK centres – at libraries, internet cafés and community centres. Go along and you’ll be shown how to use a computer and log onto the internet. Call 0800 771 234 or visit www.ukonlinecentres.com Benefits Staying in touch with friends, family or work colleagues is so much easier via e-mail – forget our inefficient postal system. Simply set up an account with Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail or one of the many others available. You can also chat to people online in real time, via Messenger. And if you have a webcam – buy one from £13 – you can also see each other while you speak! Perhaps you also already know about Skype – it’s downloadable software enabling you to make free calls from your computer to other Skype users across the world. And for a nominal fee you can call landlines and mobile phones. The internet is an incredible research tool, giving you instant access to billions of pages of free information. To help you wade through it all, use search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Ask Jeeves, or sites such as Wikipedia. Simply type in a few key words and the internet can help you find a new hobby, help your grandchildren with homework, compare product prices, check out consumer reviews, and even do your weekly shop online. You can organise your favourite pages – store them in your ‘favourites’ folder or bookmark the pages, as there’s nothing more irritating than having to search for the same page all over again. If you a keen photographer, then you can upload your photos to share with friends and family via the excellent Flickr site. Or, if local or family history is more your thing, then visit www.thetimecapsule.org.uk where you can add your own photographs and memories – and read about other people’s life experiences.

You can use the internet to save money by finding better rates for your gas and insurance, and compare pension advice. Or read reviews of holiday destinations and hotels before you book. One incredible site worth investigating is Google Earth – you can travel the whole world in 3D – without even leaving your desk! The list is endless. As well as providing a means to enjoy the internet, you can watch films and listen to CDs on a computer. There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored… Happy surfing!

WEBSITES www.amazon.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk www.citizensonline.org.uk www.earth.google.com www.flickr.com www.kelkoo.com www.mysupermarket.co.uk www.silversurfers.net www.skype.com www.thetimecapsule.org.uk www.tripadviser.com

Go Maria!

panish grandmother Maria Amelia Lopez became a surprise hit on the internet at the age of 95 last year after her grandson Daniel introduced her to the world of computer weblogs. Weblogs, better known as blogs, are diaries or notebooks, often illustrated with photographs, which are published on the internet for free public viewing. Maria, who lives in a small town on Spain’s north coast, had seen Daniel surfing the net and decided she wanted to join in the fun. Her blog combines her childhood memories with commentary on today’s fashions and politics. Her first entry gives some idea of Maria’s sense of humour: “Today it’s my birthday and my grandson, who is very stingy, gave me a blog,” she wrote. By the end of last year, Maria had more than 60,000 readers around the world, and had received replies from internet surfers as far flung as

RIGHT Maria, a keen 95-year-old blogger

Brazil, Russia and Japan. She even found she could leap the barrier between generations: much to her surprise, several teenagers have written requesting her advice. “It’s a whole new universe,” she says. “It’s like having a conversation, and the people who read what I say become my friends.” You can read Maria’s blog at www.amis95.blogspot.com. Maria is not the oldest blogger, however – that prize goes to Olive Riley, a 107-year-old Australian great-great-grandmother and former farm cook in the Australian Outback, who has also recorded filmed interviews on YouTube (www. youtube.com). You can read her blog at www.allaboutolive.com.au The Oddfellow 19

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hile waiting at the supermarket checkout, Janice bumped into her friend Karen. It had been some months since they last met so they had a catch-up over coffee in the cafeteria. “It’s back to school for my girls”, Janice said. “They’re really growing up and are nearly as tall as me now. It has to be a new school uniform each year, and I’m at a loss to know where the money will come from. “The banks and building societies don’t want to know about small loans and local money lenders charge such a high rate of interest that you end up with a large debt.” “Look Janice, I used to be in the same position, no savings and really stuck when events required money quickly,” said Karen. “But I was lucky to find a solution; something that not only made me in control of my finances but also introduced me to new and supportive friends and opened up my social life. Last year, I joined a Friendly Society, the Oddfellows. They are very friendly but, to get to the point, they also have a Credit Union, which could be something you’d benefit from joining.” “How does it work?” asked Janice. “Firstly you must be a member of the Oddfellows, which is £25 a year,” Karen said. “Once you’re a member you can then join the Credit Union. You have to save regularly with a minimum of £5 per month and after three months you can apply for a loan. The first loan can be five times your savings, but after that it can be 10 times, up to a maximum of £7,500. “When you have a loan, the minimum £5 per month savings has to continue, but the

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beauty of this is that when you’ve repaid the loan your savings are greater, which means you can borrow more when you want to.” “I can afford £5 a month, perhaps up to £15, but what do loans cost?” Janice asked “Well, the interest is one per cent a month on what you owe, so as you pay the loan off, the interest also reduces,” said Karen. “So, if you’ve saved £10 a month for six months, your savings would be £60 and a maximum loan of £300 would be available. If you needed £180 for the school uniforms and wanted to pay the loan off over 12 months, you’d need to pay £15 per month plus on the first month interest of £1.80. “As you pay off the £180, the interest reduces each month: £1.65 for the second, £1.50 for the third, and the last payment would be 15p. There’s no penalty for early payment and no administration charge.”

The monthly interest is one per cent on what you owe and it reduces as you pay off the loan each month.

“This seems like it could be a great answer to my cash flow problems,” said Janice. “Well, there are also other aspects to the Credit Union, like free life savings and loan protection insurance. You should get some more information, they are very helpful,” Karen suggested. “I use it for Christmas and holidays. Remember Alice who lost all the money she paid into Farepak?” “Yes, the poor dear,” sighed Janice, “she saved all year and then the company went bust and when Christmas came she never even got a box of mince pies, let alone the big hamper that she paid for.” “Well, I paid for my Christmas fare through the Credit Union, so I could get exactly what I wanted from where I wanted, with no chance of losing my money.” “That’s a great idea Karen, I can never understand why they put those jars of olives stuffed with anchovies in those hampers.” “Me neither, Janice,” laughed Karen.

For more information about the Manchester Unity Credit Union call 0161 819 3730 or visit the website www.manchesterunitycu.co.uk

The Oddfellow 21

Workers in Oddfellowship

Obituaries

Sterling efforts

in memoriam Prominent Oddfellows

Celebrating our dedicated Workers in Oddfellowship

n this section we celebrate the achievements of five members who have served the Society with sterling dedication over the years and award them with their own Workers in Oddfellowship portrait. The five featured members have gone beyond the call of duty time and again and have been nominated by their Districts for their tireless contribution to the Society. Applications are considered by the Benevolence Committee and its decision has to then be ratified by deputies at the Annual Movable Conference before the honour of having a Workers in Oddfellowship portrait featured in the magazine is bestowed upon the distinguished few. If you think that someone in your District deserves to be recognised with a portrait, please contact your District Secretary.

sister LUCY ROGERS ppgm, Peterborough and Spalding Sister Lucy was initiated into the Oddfellows at the age of 16 and since then she has been deputy to the AMC seven times and Provincial Grand Master in 1989, 1997 and 2002. Lucy is social lodge secretary and Welfare Officer, and has attended all the group conference seminars since 1990. Outside Oddfellows Lucy enjoys travelling abroad, caravanning with her husband and dancing. She is particularly proud of the fact that her grandchildren are sixth-generation Oddfellows.

Brother William Henry Eason ppgm, Nene and Welland William became a full member of the Oddfellows as soon as he could, in 1942 at the age of 16. Among his proudest moments in Oddfellowship include being elected Provincial Grand Master in 1983-4, presenting a lifeboat to Sheringham lifeboat station in 1984 and presenting a showjumping horse to a disabled junior member in Wisbech. A keen gardener and former County bowls player, William is heavily involved in promoting the Lodge’s social activities. He served for 38 years in the Royal Observer Corps and has been a founding member of the British Legion for 60 years.

brother RICHARD STANTON, BRISTOL Richard was initiated into Oddfellowship at the age of 16 in 1951, and first held office as a member of the London and Home Counties Committee from 1976, before he became its President in 1983-4. Since then Richard has been elected to numerous posts, and he has continued his active involvement in the Society at the Marquess of Bute Lodge since retiring to Somerset in 1998. Richard’s occupation was as a master engraver and for many years he engraved the winners on football’s most famous trophy, the FA Cup.

brother DOUGLAS GEORGE STEVENSON, Nene and Welland Douglas joined the Oddfellows in 1953; he had recently married, and was attracted by the promise of financial help for his new family should he fall ill. Soon, the social side of membership took over as he attended meetings and events, and later, friendships forged gave invaluable support after his wife’s untimely death at the age of 49. Douglas plays an active role in his community, and last summer he paraded an item of the Society’s Silver Regalia around Sheringham, Norfolk, at the launch of its new lifeboat.

BROTHER STUART EDWARDS ppgm, Loyal Erewash Valley Stuart is from a family of ardent workers in Oddfellowship – his great grandfather was a founder-member of his local Lodge in Derbyshire, followed by his grandfather and father, and Stuart himself was enrolled at birth. The biggest change he has seen in the Society in his 74 years is the encouragement of women members, and he was proud to follow his wife, Alice, as President of the former Eastern Group Conference. Stuart has also served as Provincial Grand Master three times. Outside Oddfellowship, he has been a lay preacher for 54 years.

22 The Oddfellow

Last September Ruth was diagnosed with lymphoma. She passed away at her daughter’s home in Charlton. Her funeral was held at St Mary Magdalene Church, Woolwich. Ruth’s passing impoverishes the world, but her life greatly enriched it. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Brother W.H.J. Slade PPGM 29 October 1928 – 6 December 2007 rother Bill Slade joined Oddfellowship and the Loyal Bickham Lodge in March 1955, and went on to be one of the Unity’s and Lodge’s most loyal members. He was a Lodge Noble Grand on several occasions and played a very prominent role in overseeing a smooth transfer when the Bickham Lodge merged with the Oxenham Lodge. One of his proudest moments came in 1933 when he was elected Provincial Grand Master of the Exeter District. He helped set up the Exeter District Lodge when all lodges became unregistered and came under the umbrella of the District Lodge. Many years ago he had a very bad accident which curtailed his working career as a carpenter but it never dented his enthusiasm, loyalty and belief in Oddfellowship. He was a true Oddfellow.

B Sister Ruth Lillian Gurling PPGM 28 February 1930 – 5 October 2007 uth joined the Royal Artillery Lodge in the Woolwich District in 1982. She quickly progressed through the offices of the Lodge and the District, and was elected to the District Committee of Management in 1988. Ruth was elected Provincial Grand Master in 1990. That year she led a charity appeal for families affected by cot death, which helped to buy a support system for the Dartford and Gravesham Health area. During her Oddfellowship years Ruth helped raise more than £20,000 for charity. In 1986 Ruth married South London Provincial Grand Master Roger Gurling. They were happily married for 21 years. In 1986 Ruth was invited to become an honorary member of south London’s Flower of Kent Lodge, becoming an active member of that Lodge and District. She progressed to Provincial Grand Master in 1998, and served a second term in Woolwich in 2003. Ruth also served as President of the South London Past Grands Lodge and the Metropolitan District Officers Association, as Worthy Master of both the Woolwich and South London’s Aristarcus/Herbert White Provincial Lodges of Past Grands and of the Woolwich/St Mary Cray & Dartford Lodge of Past Provincial Grand Masters. Her other duties included Woolwich District deputy on the Friendly Societies Convalescent Home Advisory Committee for 10 years.

Brother William Mark Johns Howe PPGM 5 November 1919 – 6 December 2007 rother Bill Howe grew up on Dartmoor, before joining the Royal Navy in 1938. While on duty in the Mediterranean his ship was sunk, and Bill was a prisoner of war in Austria before being released by the American forces. Bill remained in the Navy until 1960, then returned to the Moretonhampstead area where he joined the Loyal St Andrews Lodge. He went through the chairs and became Provincial Grand Master in 1964. He moved to Kenilworth in 1999 to be closer to family, but he is still remembered with much fondness by Oddfellows in the Exeter District.

Brother Ralph N Pinder PPGM 2 January 1925 – 29 May 2007 rother Ralph Pinder’s sudden death at the Eastbourne Annual Movable Conference last year came as a great shock to everyone. He was was found in his room after having suffered heart failure. Ralph had been an Oddfellow since birth. At 16 he became an adult member of the Volunteer Lodge, which later transferred to the Invicta Lodge and is now a part of the Pride of Woolwich Lodge. He seldom missed a Lodge meeting, and was Provincial Grand Master of the Woolwich District twice, in 1972 and 2006, and Provincial Corresponding Secretary from 1993 to 2005. Ralph was also actively involved with the British Telecom twinning association, and he enjoyed a number of interesting holidays with other telecom groups throughout Europe. Oddfellows from all over the country attended Ralph’s funeral, including the Grand Master, Secretary, Chief Executive and Directors of the Order, to pay tribute to a man so well respected. It was asked that contributions should be made to the Genesis Appeal and the Macmillan nurses instead of flowers, and a substantial sum has now been donated in Ralph’s memory. He will be missed by all who knew him.

The Oddfellow 23

History

Genealogist and Oddfellows member, Karen Stuart, gives tips on tracing your roots

Original Oddfellows George Holyoake – the convicted blasphemer who wrote the Oddfellows Lectures

amily history has become one of the fastest growing hobbies in recent years. Today more people have access to the internet, whilst more records have been digitised making searching easier. Although it’s fun travelling all over the country looking for evidence of a long lost ancestor, it is no longer necessary. Where do you start? Well, the person who you should have the most information on is you. You know where and when you were born, and, if you have been married, where and when that happened. These events will mean official documents such as birth and marriage certificates and often photographs are available in your search. All are important evidence and vital clues. An English Birth Certificate issued after 1837 may contain the following: first name and surname, date and place of birth, name and profession of father, and maiden name of mother, where and when registered. An English Marriage Certificate issued after 1837 may contain the name of the bride and groom, place and date of marriage, names of fathers and the status of the bride and groom. A Death Certificate may contain the date and place of death, the cause of death and the reporting person. Scottish records also give the mother’s name and status. Ask other family members – there might be someone else who has done some research. Older family members will have memories so try and record them as they can be a vital source of information. There may be family myths – do not take them as

ABOVE Karen gives a talk at the Stockport District

24 The Oddfellow

ABOVE Tracing ancestors: Duncan Robertson Stuart and Margret Stuart

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Create a timeline, so that you can see if it’s possible for the event to have happened when you think it did.

fact or fiction, prove them. When you start to search for ancestors there will be those who it is easy to find records for, such as my aunt Euphemia Stuart in my family. There were very few girls born in 1914 with that name but her brother Duncan Stuart was not so easy, as both his names are common in Scotland. Once you have traced your family back to 1901 the census returns are an invaluable source of information, available on the internet or in many local libraries. Taken every 10 years since 1841 they can be a great help, but remember the spelling of surnames changes, for example Stuart and Stewart can become interchangeable, and forenames can change too. Names often follow in families – my grandmother was Margret, known always as Maggie, my aunt Margret was referred to as Peggy and my cousin Margret was always called Daisy. Larger families were quite normal – my father born in 1921 is one of 13 siblings, the eldest born in 1897. This means that uncles

and aunts can be the same age or even younger than their nephews and nieces. Stepfamilies were also common in Victorian times, so it is quite normal to find a man who was married to one woman in 1881, married to another by 1891. Whatever you discover, however small, record it, because one day it might just be the piece of the puzzle you need. Get copies of documents, and create a timeline, so that you can see if it is possible for an event to have happened when you think it did. Create a family tree with all the information you collect and remember that women are always known by their maiden names. There are lots of template trees available on the internet, or from family history suppliers. The main thing to remember though is that whichever way you

If your Branch would like a presentation on family history, contact Karen Stuart on 07736 444 659

eorge Jacob Holyoake was born in Birmingham on 13 April 1817. His father, George, was a whitesmith (an artisan who works with “white” metals such as tin or pewter) and his mother, Catherine, a button maker. After a basic education George followed his father and became a whitesmith. But at the age of 19, to improve his education George took evening classes at the Birmingham Mechanics’ Institute, where he was influenced by the pioneering socialist ideas of Robert Owen. In 1841 George became a lecturer on socialism in Worcester, then transferred to Sheffield, where he became the editor of Oracles of Reason, a journal for freethinkers.

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He travelled far and wide around the country, giving lectures to many avid listeners. While in Glasgow he joined the Robert Burns Lodge of Oddfellows, and in due course he became a Noble Grand (Chairman) and later a Past Grand (past Chairman), continuing his association with the Oddfellows while living and working in Sheffield. During a time of economic hardship in 1842, George gave a lecture in Cheltenham suggesting that it was our duty to support each other. A local preacher called Maitland challenged him that he had spoken of duty to man, but had not told people of their duty to God. Referring to Church Rates (a tax formerly levied in each English parish to support the church, which everyone had to pay regardless of whether they were Christian or not), George replied that, as the national church cost the country £20 million annually, worship was too expensive for ordinary people, who could not afford to have a God. As a result George was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment; in fact, he was the last person in England to be imprisoned for this offence. After his release, George started a weekly journal promoting freedom of thought and campaigned on a variety of social and political issues.

George replied that worship was too expensive for ordinary people, who could not afford to have a God.

In 1845 the Oddfellows decided to hold a competition where a £50 prize was offered to the person who could write new lectures to promote the Society’s shared values. Previously lectures took a question-andanswer format, based on topics taken from the Old Testament. Some 79 people submitted draft lectures, and the Grand Master and Board of Directors selected the winning entry – by George Holyoake. When this was announced at the 1846 Annual Moveable Committee in Bristol, there were objections by some members who thought that, as a convicted blasphemer, George should not be paid the prize money. However, to their credit, the Board of Directors defended his rights and the lectures were adopted. George used his £50 prize money to set up a magazine called The Reasoner. Within a few years it was selling 5,000 copies a week and became a highly influential working-class journal. During this time, George created the term ‘secularism’ to describe “a form of opinion that concerns itself only with questions, the issues of which can be tested by the experience of this life”. A strong believer in the Oddfellows ‘Golden Rule’ that we should treat others as we would wish them to treat us, George went on to become a leading radical and reformer and author of a great number of books. George’s later years were dedicated to promoting the Co-operative Movement among working people. He died in 1906, and Holyoake House was then built in Manchester as the headquarters of the Co-operative Union. In the Oddfellows, our lectures are his living memorial. A major collection of George Holyoake’s correspondence can be found in the National Co-operative Archive in central Manchester. A wide array of other records relating to the history of the worldwide Co-operative Movement are also available to browse at the Archive. To find out more about the Archive, call 0161 246 2925. The Oddfellow 25

Images: Photolibrary and National Co-operative Archive

Whodo you think you are?

Book Club

Book Club hat kind of books have you been reading? Are you gripped by memoirs or by crime fiction? Do new authors inspire and excite you, or do you prefer old classics? We would love to hear about the books you like to read. If there is something that moved you or made you laugh, write to us and we will pass on your suggestions to our readers. You can just tell us the title of the book or write a full review. It can be a new author you have recently discovered, or old favourites you love to curl up to and read, time and again. Whatever they are, we can’t wait to hear about them.

Send your reviews and recommendations to: Book Club, Oddfellows House, 40 Fountain Street, Manchester, M2 2AB, or email magazine@oddfellows.co.uk

A Journey of Hope by Bob Parsons

ob Parsons was 50 when his father asked him a question that left him stuck for words. While in hospital at the age of 80 his father asked: “In the last moments of your life, will you be able to say the world has been a better place because of your presence?” A Journey of Hope is Bob’s autobiography and his way of answering his father’s question. Bob has dedicated his life to helping others, improving the lives of convicted criminals and children across the world. He was awarded an MBE after founding the Charity, Hope For Children in 1994, rather than taking his retirement. Bob’s career began as a probationary officer in Hemel Hempstead where he saw “more of life than I ever had in my thirty years,” and used the experience to find ways of doing something constructive with the problem. Bob’s work then took him Sri Lanka and Africa working for Save the Children, looking after thousands of children affected by Civil War. Along the way, Bob experienced genocide 26 The Oddfellow

and war first hand, and worked hard to look after and trace children in the wake of such experiences. Bob’s time as regional director for Save the Children in Asia, exposed him to stories of survival and horror, which would leave him “never the same again”. Bob continues to work for the charity, after years of helping others abroad and despite battling personal illness. His story is both harrowing and fascinating, but it is told with such modesty, making it readable. His life spent helping others is clearly documented and his contribution to humanity answers his father’s question. One big fan of the book, adds the following thoughts: A Journey of Hope is the extraordinary story of an apparently ordinary man who has squeezed three times more into his seventy-odd years than the rest of us – and who isn’t finished. It ends with the story of Hope, founded in 1994, and now a million-pound charity. It starts, however, in Balham, and in somewhat difficult circumstances.

Can you answer these literary questions? All are related to well-known classics. 1. Which novel opens with the follow line: “Now. What I want is Facts.” 2. Which of the following character from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice does not have a brother or sister? a) Mr Wickham b) Mr Bingley c) Mr Darcy d) Elizabeth Bennet 3. When Emily Brontë published Wuthering Heights, she had to publish under a male pseudonym. What was the name she used? 4) In which year was George Orwell’s 1984 published? a. 1983 b. 1965 c. 1949 d. 1933 Answer 1: Charles Dickens’ Hard Times. 2. B) Mr Bingley 3. Ellis Bell 4. C) 1949

Book Review

Write answer?

New book

Previews

WIN The Story of Oddfellows Hall by Peter Cox

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £18.99)

A Killing Frost by R D Wingfield (Bantam Press, £14.99)

The Man Who Ate the World: In Search of the Perfect Dinner by Jay Rayner (Headline, £16.99)

Although a well-known cinema icon, Julie Andrews has never told her story in her own words. Home is an autobiography of her early years, from a happy life in Surrey to living in a Blitzed London. Andrews was then encouraged to follow her mother and stepfather to a life of performance. Debuting in The Boy Friend at the age of 19, Andrews went on to successful roles in My Fair Lady and the book finishes with a call from Walt Disney for Mary Poppins. Home is an insightful account of how Andrews built her career.

It’s been twenty-five years since R D Wingfield first introduced us to DI Jack Frost, and this sixth book in the series is the final outing for the detective. This novel was completed shortly before Wingfield’s death last April. DI Frost is struggling to keep on top of mounting cases at Denton CID, when a new detective arrives on the scene with plans to transfer the unorthodox Frost. This gripping novel gives a fond farewell to a muchloved novel and television character. A Killing Frost is out 7 April.

As a restaurant critic for the Observer, Jay Rayner has had his fair share of meals. But in his new book he goes in search of the perfect high-end dinner, which takes him from New York to Tokyo. Rayner looks into the globalisation of fine dining, and discovers the truth behind Michelinstarred restaurants around the world. But the book is just as much about the people and characters he meets on his way. It’s a humorous and insightful look into an increasingly profitable industry. Out 3 April.

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Oddfellows W Book club

FINISH

START

Peter Cox charts the 140-year history of the Oddfellows Hall in Sheringham, a building which was previously a lifeboat station, a shoe factory and a model railway centre, and is now being used by the local community. The book costs £9.95 and is available at Bertram A Watts at 10 Church Street in Sheringham. You could collect it or have it posted for an extra £1.50. To win a copy of The Story of Oddfellow Hall, simply send your name and contact details on a postcard to: Book Competition, Oddfellows House, 40 Fountain Street, Manchester, M2 2AB.

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Active Travel Club

London theatre weekend A musical, sightseeing, Christmas shopping – a brilliant, busy break for the Oddfellows

n October, members and friends went on a weekend break to London to see the successful West End show, The Sound of Music, and do a spot of Christmas shopping. When arriving on the Friday, everyone was eager to see the show, and following a welcome drink in the hotel bar, the group made their way to the London Palladium. It did not fail to impress, and was a great start to what turned out to be a gloriously sunny October weekend. The following day provided perfect conditions for the group to take in the sights of the capital, and by the time the evening meal came round, everyone had really made the most of their time, visiting famous landmarks such as the London Eye, the Tower of London, Covent Garden and, of course, the plethora of shops! After breakfast on Sunday, most of the group decided to stay a little longer in London and left their bags at the hotel while they spent the last few hours taking in some of the sights they didn’t have time for on Saturday. The weekend proved to be a real hit with everyone and one that will hopefully be repeated in the not too distant future.

28 The Oddfellow

oin us for the 2008 annual holiday taking place at the Sinah Warren hotel, Hayling Island near Portsmouth. This character hotel is the perfect place to relax and unwind, with a range of facilities including heated pools, a steam room and a fitness studio. For the more active there is plenty to see and do on this five-day break, with evening entertainment and nearby attractions including the city of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, which is just a short boat trip away. Hayling Island, which is fully accessible by road, also boasts some beautiful

walks, parks and pebble beaches. All in all, this holiday can be as action packed or as laid back as you want – all in the company of many other Oddfellows friends old and new. From only £214 per person.

BOOK NOW To book call 01442 236777, quoting code 36NR7

Oddfellows Annual Turkey and Tinsel Holiday 2008

ast year’s event was a great success. Some fifty Oddfellows members from across the UK enjoyed the 2007 Turkey and Tinsel holiday at Alvaston Hall, Cheshire. Everyone enjoyed the welcome drinks and festive quiz, followed by a week of entertainment, activities and great food. Members said it was one of the best holidays yet and expressed an interest in joining us on future holidays. Now here’s your chance to join Oddfellows members and friends

Active Travel Club Update

he Active Travel Club offers members the chance to enjoy holidays and short breaks together as a group both in the UK and abroad and is free to join for all Oddfellows members. So far more than 200 members have signed up. Members of the club will be the very first to receive the latest information on forthcoming events, activities and special offers, and will receive regular updates through e-mails, letters and an Active Travel Club Events Guide. To join, please write to Paula Grainger at The Oddfellows, 40 Fountain Street, Manchester, M2 2AB, or e-mail

Summer holiday 2008

active@oddfellows.co.uk stating your name and contact details. Don’t forget that Warner Privilege Holiday Club provides monthly special offers and discounts exclusive to Oddfellows members as well as their family and friends. To take advantage of these fabulous offers as

‘‘

soon as they become available, please send your name and e-mail address to: paula.grainger@oddfellows.co.uk Also, keep checking the Oddfellows website www.oddfellows.co.uk for all the latest information on upcoming holidays, trips and offers.

Members of the club will be the very first to receive the latest information on all forthcoming events and activities.

A fountain of fun (above); Christmas dinner (right)

from across the country for this year’s Turkey and Tinsel holiday. It takes place at the historic Littlecote House, a fabulous Grade I-listed Elizabethan country house in the heart of Berkshire. Littlecote is steeped in history and is only 45 minutes away from Bath and Oxford. The four-night stay starts on Monday 1 December 2008 and includes all the usual decorations and trimmings of Christmas and New Year. The first day you’ll enjoy an early Christmas Eve, the second, Christmas Day and the third, Boxing Day. It doesn’t stop there – on the fourth and fifth day we’ll indulge in all the usual merriment of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day! The holiday starts at only £199 per person. The price includes half board, and is based on two people sharing a twin/double room. For room supplements, enquire at the time of booking.

BOOK NOW To book call 01442 203453, quoting code 22FP8 The Oddfellow 29

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