eZine April 2012

The ‘Modfather’ mellowsAt 53, Paul Weller has mellowed with age. But he’s not a man to rest onhis laurels.

The former front man of The Jam has just delivered the final piece in atrilogy of solo albums, and it might just be his best yet.

The farmshop trade hasn’t always been easy for the owners ofFarrington’s – the 2012 UK Farm Retailer of the Year. From runninga cold, empty barn to industry leaders; we speak to the couple atthe heart of rural Britain’s great success story. WIN: A fantastic hamper worth £50! Find out more inside.

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Find out all the details of ourOddfellows summer holiday toBodelwyddan Castle, North WalesMonday 2 - Friday 6 July 2012

Active TravelLive like a king

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Food & drinkGood food fights back

George Hill, ourresident gardener,is on hand toanswer yourgreen-fingeredgripes and guideyou through thoseoutdoor tasks.

WIN: An essential gardening kit,including gloves, seeds and tools!Simply send George your gardeningquestions for your chance to win

April 2012 Issue 16 www.oddfellows.co.uk Not already a member? visit www.oddfellows.co.uk to join now!

Also featured this monthDiscoveries: Kids running wild and a million years of fireHealth & wellbeing: Find out how your money is helping SpinalResearchAround Britain: Your no-nonsense guide to Bury St EdmundsSport & leisure: All you need to know about getting out andenjoying the start of springMoney: FSA advises how to avoid share fraudsters

New member benefitGet 10% off everything on Suttons seeds website

Ask George...

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A new dad again at 53, Paul Weller has mellowed withage. And he’s possibly producing his best music ever.

Paul Weller has never been a man to rest on his laurels.Back in the ‘80s, when he was part of The Jam, he decidedthe limitations of the trio’s set-up were too great and split theband up there and then.

Millions were devastated – not least band members RickBuckler and Bruce Foxton, who reportedly heard the news viaa letter delivered by Weller’s dad.

Go to any of the 53-year-old’s gigs now and you’ll see men ofa certain age who still haven’t quite forgiven ‘The Modfather’for deserting them 30 years ago.

Nevertheless, he held firm and quickly went on to form TheStyle Council, leaving behind the punk-fuelled rhythm andblues of The Jam for altogether more sophisticated jazz andhouse influences.

“Sometimes you do things that people get on board with andother times they’re not so quick,” says Weller. “Sometimespeople come with you, other times they miss it.”

Even his record label didn’t understand what was happeningwhen he delivered The Style Council’s final album,Modernism: A New Decade, in 1989. Fearful of how Weller’snew deep house direction would fare commercially, Polydordecided to drop the band, which subsequently broke up.

The following few years were tough for Weller, who wasreduced to playing small venues in front of fans still itching forhim to play Jam songs.

“There was a very depressing, lonely stage after the StyleCouncil,” says Weller. “But then with [second solo album]Wild Wood it’s like we all met again – me and the audience.”

Fast forward to 2012 and Weller has just delivered the finalpiece in a trilogy of albums that might just be his best.

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Weller revels in mid-life freedom

“I love going to the theatre once in a while, so

when I heard my local Oddfellows Branch was

arranging a trip I couldn’t pass it up.”

Sharon - Manchester

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No one has laid down any maps.

We all make it up as we go along.

“

“

Continued on the next page

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His creative rejuvenation began back on 2008’s 22 Dreams,a sprawling double album which incorporated pastoral folk,spoken work and free jazz.

The follow-up, Wake Up The Nation, a call to arms for theyouth to “get your face out of Facebook and turn off thephone”, saw the return of the fire in Weller’s belly.

Sonik Kicks, his latest album, continues that line of eclecticexperimentation. Taking in Krautrock, dub reggae andBowie-esque blue-eyed soul, it’s certainly not the record youwould expect him to make as he approaches his 54thbirthday.

“Objectively I can see it has been a creative time, yes,” hesays. “I feel liberated to try new things, or at least I want totry other things.

Weller’s never been the most autobiographical ofsongwriters, but with That Dangerous Age, his currentsingle, he comes close.

It deals with a character in his 50s, unfulfilled by hiscomfortable life and well-paid job, going through somethingof a mid-life crisis.

But that’s not Weller – he’s just become a dad to twins John-Paul and Bowie with his new wife Hannah and soundshappier than he has done in years.

“It’s a great leveller, having kids. It’s funny seeing me onstage one minute, this rock god, then washing bottles in thesink the next.

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“The twins are great, although I’m sleeping a lot less than Iused to.”

That Dangerous Age is, however, inspired by the reaction tothe announcement of his relationship with Hannah, some 28years his junior.

“Oh, the scandal,” he says, mockingly. “And I’ve got childrenby different women. How shocking!

“It’s about how we view people of certain ages. How arepeople supposed to dress and act when they get older?

“No one has laid down any maps. We all make it up as we goalong.

“It’s mainly just about this guy earning all the bucks in his jobbut regretting all the things he’s not done. But I got my mid-life crisis out of the way in my late thirties.”

Weller’s excesses are well-documented. He did his fair shareof drugs during the ‘90s and started a love affair with boozingwhile playing working men’s clubs as a teenager. He’s sobernow, though, and claims not to have touched a drop in abouta year.

“Stopping drinking has made me saner. It’s changed an awfullot of things, and now I wouldn’t want to go back to thoseways. I’m getting too old for it, and I can’t be arsed with three-day hangovers.

“I just enjoy life more now – and I don’t feel terrible in themorning any more.”

It’s a great leveller, having kids. It’s

funny seeing me on stage one minute,

this rock god, then washing bottles in

the sink the next.

““

EXTRA TIMEPAUL WELLER

:: John William Weller got his first guitar

when he was 11 and when he was

14 he formed The Jam with two friends

:: The Jam released its debut single In

The City a month before Weller's 19th

birthday

:: Sonik Kicks is Weller's 11th solo album

and went straight to number one on the

UK album chart.

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Just a ‘Stones’ throw away

Dear Mick and the guys,

You might not remember me, but I certainly remember you. I used to live above you at 102 Edith

Grove. I’m the guy who loved jazz and blues. I was the one who used to wake you up so that you

could attend the London School of Economics – or was it Art College? Talk about living the part.

The year was 1963. I was 21 and just a little older you. You were hoping to hit the ‘big time’. You

said you were going to be bigger than The Beatles. How right you were.

One evening my friends and I were at home, listening to the radio. Suddenly we heard the DJ say:

“We now have a record from a brand new group, The Rolling Stones, and it’s called Come On.

We could hardly believe our ears, we stayed up waiting for you to get home from your gig in

Richmond, so we could tell you. You were ecstatic.

From then on, whenever we used to leave the house there’d be a crowd of girls waiting outside.

Eventually the crowd got so big that we couldn’t get out of the door. And there’d always be a

couple of short-sighted girls who would attack anyone leaving the house. What a life you must all

have had!

But your success wasn’t all down to luck. It was through hard work, determination and a great

sound. I can vouch for that.

Peter

P.S. Can we have our coffee, milk and sugar back now please?

I’m sure you can afford to buy your own these days!

The Rolling Stones, circa 1963. Peter Clarke - today and in the ‘60s

Peter Clarke, Secretary from our St Mary Cray and Dartford Branch, once livedabove an unknown band called the Rolling Stones. Here he reminisces abouthis student days in an open letter to the now world famous group. Did youknow anyone before they became famous? Send us your story. [email protected]

(Photo by Steve Lewis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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“My favourite thing about the Oddfellows is that all the

events are aimed at foodies like me. We even went on a

tour of an English vineyard recently – I’ll drink to that!”

George - Brighton

Good food fights backAndy and Tish Jeffrey could have been forgiven forabandoning the farmshop trade.

They launched their business near Bristol in 1991 when theywere in their thirties and served 400 customers a week for thenext four years – only for a new supermarket to open next-door and halve their turnover overnight.

It was hardly the reward all their work deserved, and for awhile they feared it would mean the end. And yet now, thanksto a remarkable turnaround, the couple are celebrating beingcrowned 2012 UK Farm Retailer of the Year by the NationalFarmers’ Retail and Markets Association (FARMA). FARMAdescribes their farmshop, called Farrington’s after the village ofFarrington Gurney where it’s based, as an “excellent exampleof professional management in farm retailing” – a far cry fromthe business’s humble beginnings.

Andy was a dairy farmer back then, while Tish was producingchildren at a rate of knots. They decided to set up the shopsimply for some extra cash and enjoyment. “When we startedwe’d get one or maybe two customers a day,” explains Andy.

“It was one of those farmshops you could draw a caricature of– straw bales everywhere, freezing cold and with the farmer’swife coming out of the kitchen to serve the customers.”

In time, slowly but surely, the Jeffreys managed to build up areasonably solid business.

But then the supermarket arrived – and Farrington’s future wasinstantly thrown into doubt. “Until that point the farmshop hadbeen supporting the farm, but that was suddenly reversed,”says Andy. “Before we knew it we’d lost half of our custom.”

The shop limped on until 1999, when the Jeffreys decided itwas do-or-die time and sought out expert advice.

They were given a list of 30 things a successful farmshopshould do. It turned out theirs wasn’t doing any of them. It wasthe wake-up call they needed. Determined to succeed, theyset about modernising the shop and spent almost two yearssecuring the finance for their ambitious plans.

In February 2001, just four months before Farrington’s wasdue to re-open, the foot-and-mouth crisis hit the UK. But stillAndy and Tish remained undeterred. Now Farrington’s boastsa large café and a production kitchen where all thehomemade food – from soups to salads, cakes to chutneys,jams, pies and even ready-meals – is created.

By inviting smaller start-up businesses on-site, Andy and Tishalso have a range of other shops, including a beauty salon, abakery and a recently opened plant centre.

This month they even launched their first ‘Tulip Trail’, allowingcustomers to pick their own tulips from a field of 100,000 – anidea that has earned national press coverage. They now hopeto develop their on-site entertainment and homemade foodrange even further, with planning permission for more retailspaces and a bigger production kitchen.






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The prize on offer provides one winner with a hamper of produce fromFarrington’s farmshop up to the value of £50.

Delivered straight to your door, the hamper comes packed with homeproduced seasonal goods from the UK’s 2012 Farm Retailer of the Year.

To enter, simply sign someone up to Friendscene magazine. [email protected] with the email address of your friend or familymember by Friday 5 May and you’ll both be entered into the prize draw. Good luck!

Competition terms and conditions1) Please ensure you have the permission of the person you are nominating to subscribe to Friendscene before you submittheir details. When we have received confirmation of their willingness to subscribe, you’ll both be entered into the prize draw.2) Only one entry allowed per applicant (aged 18 or over). 3) The deadline for entries is before 5 May 2012 – any entriesreceived after this time will not be counted. 4) The winning entries will be chosen at random from all entries and notified withinthree weeks. 5) This prize cannot be exchanged for another option. 6) The Oddfellows reserves the right to change the detailsof this competition without prior notice.

Please note prize contents and presentation may differ from picture and final decision rests with Farrington’s. For further details, please contact [email protected]

Win a fantastic Farrington’s hamper worth £50!

“The retail trade is tough,” admits Andy. “People just aren’tgetting their wallets out like they used to. But we’re benefitingfrom having other businesses here, and winning the FARMAaward reinforces to our customers that they’re coming to theright place.”

As might be expected, ethically sourced food is considered ofgreat importance. “We’ve always promoted the local side ofwhere and how things are produced, and our success showspeople want that,” says Andy.

“We try to do everything as best we can,” adds Tish. “And if wecan’t do it ourselves then we find someone who can.” EnterPaul Castle, Farrington’s Business Manager since 2009, whojokingly proclaims himself the Jeffreys’ “marriage counsellor”.Credited by his employers with leading the team to theircurrent success, he has his own theory regarding the growingdemand for good food.

“The younger generation has been brought up in the JamieOliver environment, and they understand about food more

Guest chef Tim Martin offers tasters from his range-cookedlunch in the Udder Room

The farmshop

now,” he says. “It’s not just about preparing meals fromscratch but using healthy, good-quality ingredients. This issomething twenty-somethings are getting increasingly savvyabout.”

But Paul strikes a note of caution at the idea that customersare willing to pay any price. “It’s about choice, of course, butit’s also about how much an individual can afford to exploitthat choice with the money in their pocket,” he says. “I thinkpeople are forced out of some farmshops because of price,even though they understand the importance of quality. We trynot to exclude anyone. We’re not an elitist farmshop whereeverything for sale has two noughts on the end of it.”

This strategy certainly seems to be working, with honours andrecognition – including the Countryside Alliance’s 2011 BritishChampions of Local Food award – coming thick and fast. Theteam is also growing. With more than 80 people nowemployed on-site, Farrington’s is one of rural Britain’s greatsuccess stories. But one thing has remained constantthroughout the business’s rise from empty barn to industryleader: the couple at the heart of it.

The Carpenters ArmsOwners Richard and HeatherHurley spent 23 years living inFrance, running an award-winningrestaurant for six years in thesouthern town of Villefranche deConflent.

Since buying this pub in 2009,they’ve refurbished it extensivelyand now offer à la carte Frenchfood, Sunday roasts and lunchmenus.

They won a Good Pub Guide awardfor 2012. Visit the website

Sablé bretonIngredients225g flourPinch of salt1tsp baking powder

160g butter160g caster sugar4 x egg yolks

Orange creamIngredients

1 x 250ml tub whipping creamThe zest of 1 small orange (finely grated, less 2 strips peeled off)1tbsp Grand Marnier

MethodWhip the cream until stiff peaks form, then add the zest and the GrandMarnier. Whip it again until stiff peaks form and then put the mixture into apiping bag fitted with a nozzle and chill in the fridge until it’s ready to use.

Poached rhubarbIngredients5 or 6 good sticks of rhubarb

MethodCut the rhubarb into 1 inch-pieces and place in an ovenproof dish with 2tablespoons of caster sugar and 2 strips of orange peel.

Poach it in the oven at 175˚C until soft but not breaking down. Check after10 minutes and then every 5 minutes thereafter. It should still be pink but soft.

MethodSift the flour, baking powder and salt and put aside. Cream the butter andthen add the sugar and cream until light and fluffy. Add the eggs to themixture one at a time and then fold in the flour mixture. Shape the mixtureinto a log and then chill in the fridge. Once it’s firm, cut it into slices andbake at 180˚C for 8-10 minutes. Stem ginger ice cream

Ingredients600ml chilled double cream1 x carton of readymade custard450g jar of ginger in syrup

MethodDrain the jar of ginger, reserving the syrup, and chopthe ginger finely. Mix the custard with the cream, thenstir in the chopped ginger and 4 tablespoons of thesyrup.

Chill for at least 30 minutes before pouring the mixtureinto a plastic tub and freezing it until it starts tocrystallise. Take it out of the freezer and stir well, thenput back in the freezer, repeating the process twicemore to finish.

To serveTake 1 sablé and place it on a serving plate. Pipe theorange cream into the middle and place somerhubarb alongside it. Finish with a scoop of gingerice cream.

Guest recipe - Sablé breton with orange cream,poached rhubarb and stem ginger ice creamSupplied by Heather Hurley, awarding-winning chef at the Carpenters Arms, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire

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http://www.carpentersarmsgastropub.co.uk/

“These days we take ‘staycations’ in the UK to

keep costs down. But wherever we go there are

always Oddfellows events to entertain us.”

Lesley - South Yorkshire

Bury St EdmundsA guide to the former Villa Faustina, or ‘happy town’, of Roman Britain

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The town of Bury St Edmunds has a long and rich history. It was once one of

the most famous royal towns in Saxon Britain, and this month we pay it a

visit to show you why it’s worth you making the trip.

No matter where you

are, you’ll always

receive a warm and

entertaining welcome

“ “

(Geoffrey House, Bury St Edmunds residentand Oddfellows Branch Secretary)

Around and aboutTravel a bit further afield and some ofEngland’s prettiest towns and villagesawait.

In Thetford, on what was once the siteof a castle, you can climb the highestNorman motte in England. VisitNewmarket for a flutter on the horses.Or head to Colchester, which datesback to 75 AD and is supposedlyBritain’s oldest recorded town.

Famous children• Bob Hoskins

• James Moore (cyclist)

• John Peel

John Le Mesurier

The abbey ruins, Bury St Edmunds

What’s worth seeing?Bury St Edmunds has a strongecclesiastical history, with its abbeyruins and its cathedral proving long-established and popular touristattractions.

Every May visitors from around thecountry are welcomed to the Bury StEdmunds Festival, which featuresseveral days of events such asconcerts, lectures and fireworkdisplays.

And a trip to this part of the worldwouldn’t be complete without a visit tothe Green King brewery or sampling itswares at one of the UK’s smallestpubs, the Nutshell.

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• John Le Mesurier (pictured)

• Lord Tebbit

• Rose Mead (artist)

To sum it up in one sentence…








Around Britain

On the ground: our members from Bury St Edmunds and Colchester

Geoffrey House, Branch Secretary for Bury St Edmunds and

Colchester, tells us what’s so special about his local area – and

explains some of the exciting events planned for the District.

“The first thing anyone ever says about our District is how friendlyeveryone is here.

We’ve got members living in Thetford, Sudbury, Brandon andNewmarket, as well as Colchester and Bury St Edmunds, of course.

We’re proud of our history here and we’re always looking for ways ofcombining our rich traditions with new and exciting ways to socialise.

Vital statistics• Oddfellows have been meeting in the

area since 1840

• The District now has 1,500 members

• Today’s District brings together four

historical Branches: Babergh, Castle,

Gipping and St Edmundsbury

• For further details contact Geoff on

01284 754345.

No matter where you are, and what event you’reattending, you’ll always receive a warm andentertaining welcome.

We always try to organise interesting events; you’ll finda few examples on the next page to get you started.

Wednesday 2 May – 10amWednesday Walkers, glorious bluebells

Join us for a walk through Arger Fen in Suffolk to admire thebluebells and enjoy the woodland. This regular event is open toall. The venue changes each time, taking in the best sights fromaround the region.

Guests are advised to follow the A134 to Assington and parknext to the Village Hall. For more details [email protected] or call 01206 330962.

Cost: FreeAddress: Arger Fen, Assington, CO10 5LQ

Thursday 31 May – 12pmTrip to Geldeston Hall

Babergh Branch will be spending the afternoon at GeldestonHall, a country house in Norfolk that was builtin 1780.

After a tour of the building and grounds, the trip will concludewith afternoon tea overlooking the Waveney Valley.

For more details call Margaret Parmenter on 01787 370537.

Cost: £14 (members) or £19 (non-members)Address: Geldeston Hall, NR34 0LP

Events being organised by the District

Friday 15 June – 9.30amTrip to Dunwich and Southwold

This fabulous day trip will whisk guests away by bus to thefamous Flora restaurant, overlooking the beach in Dunwich.The trip will then continue on to Southwold in the afternoon.

Here, you will be able to stroll on the pier, visit thelighthouse or just relax by the sea. Don’t forget to book inadvance and don’t forget the suncream!

Cost: £13pp (members) or £16pp (non-members)Address: Coach travel from Bury St Edmunds

Monday 11 June – 7pmBarbecue

Not a member? Then why not find out more about theOddfellows as our Stowmarket members hold their first annualbarbecue. There will be a selection of food and drink availableand the evening will be rounded off with a toast to the Queen’sDiamond Jubilee. For more details, [email protected] or call 01206 330962.

Cost: Donations welcomeAddress: The Old Library, Stowmarket, IP14 1BE

If you’d like to attend any of these events, please contact Social Secretary Rose Wojtasz on 01284 754 345 or email [email protected].

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“I went to Austria with the Oddfellows last summer.

Everything was taken care of – the only thing I had

to worry about was making sure to enjoy myself.”

Paula - Manchester

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Active Travel

Live like a kingWe take you to the luxurious Bodelwyddan Castle - venue of the Oddfellows 2012 Summer Holiday

Set in 200 acres of pristine Victorian parkland and characterised by the battlements and bastions of authentic Welshcastles, Bodelwyddan Castle is a magnificent Victorian folly that speaks of the luxury and opulence of a bygone era.

Listed by English Heritage as nationally important, the building boasts an intriguing combination of Gothic, Greek Revival andJacobean architecture. Although the public areas have retained a dated splendour, the hotel rooms are classic contemporaryand feature all the mod-cons necessary for a comfortable and pleasurable country break.

The Oddfellows run an Active Travel Club and below are details of one ofthe many holidays organised this year

Oddfellows Summer Holiday - Bodelwyddan Castle, North WalesMonday 2 - Friday 6 July 2012 Member rate £249pp (half board) a saving of £155 offbrochure priceFor room supplements enquire when bookingHalf price upgrades available

Break includes• Ensuite Ambassador room• Health suite with swimming pool, sauna, steam room and tropicarium

• Breakfast and three-course evening meals• Live entertainment each evening• Full range of leisure activities• Four-rink indoor bowls complex

2 July 2012

(4 nights)

For details and bookings click here. Non-member enquiries visit the website or call Paula on 0161 832 9361 ext 2311

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Solar panels still delivering 10% return despite cuts

Reductions in solar panel prices and intense competition

among installers mean householders who fit solar panels

before 1 July can still generate returns of over 10% a year.

EvoEnergy, the UK’s leading independent solar installation

firm, says returns are actually higher now than they were a

year ago when the feed in tariff (FIT) – the amount the

government pays for every unit of electricity generated – was

43.3p.

Last month’s widely-publicised reduction in the FIT to 21p has

led many to believe solar is no longer financially attractive, but

further industry-wide installation price cuts have reignited

investment returns.

EvoEnergy says its own costs for installing a basic 4kWp Solar

PV system have almost halved in the space of two years –

falling from over £16,000 in April 2010 to £8,500 today. At the

current FIT rate householders can expect the system to pay for

itself in under nine years and generate a return on investment

of 11.7% (index-linked for 25 years).

EvoEnergy Director Tom Craig is predicting another rush for

installations before the 1 July deadline when the FIT rates are

expected to drop again to between 13.6p and 16.5p per

kilowatt. There are also plans to reduce the payment period

from 25 to 20 years and scrap the index linking of payments.

He said: “Many people procrastinated about installing when the

rate was 43.3p. We’re in another sweet spot where installation

costs have fallen sufficiently to make the new FIT rate look very

attractive.

“There are less than three months to go before the numbers all

change again. Anyone sitting on cash earning under 3% a year

should really be considering the solar option and quickly.”

Pat Lowe, pictured above, from Annesley in Nottinghamshire,

was delighted with her solar panels.

“We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, so I chose

black panels with black frames to match the slate roof on our

house. They look absolutely beautiful,” she said.

“The installation team were very polite and they didn't make any

mess. And everyone we dealt with was so pleasant and

professional.”

We live in an area of outstanding natural

beauty, so I chose black panels with black

frames to match the slate roof on our

house. They look absolutely beautiful.

““

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“Sorting out the garden is how I like to relax.

An expert gave a talk at my local Oddfellows

branch – it helped me no end.”

Christine - Derbyshire

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Home & Garden

Once the plant has grown roughly 4–6 trusses, pinch the top out to stop it growing any taller. Then remove any side-shoots that emerge after that.

When tying supports to the plant, tie the string on to the stake before tying it to the plant. And always tie the string below the trusses so that the weight of the plant is supported throughout the season.

Once the plant begins to crop in the summer, ease off on the watering and cut back some of the foliage to help the tomatoes redden.

Q: “I would like to grow tomatoes but I’m unsure what

variety to plant, what would you suggest? And what’s

the best method for planting them?”

Robert, Nottingham

A: My favourite variety of tomato is Shirley. But if you want areally big tomato with an old-fashioned flavour then moneymaker is still one of the best.

To grow the best tomatoes, keep your greenhouse or windowsill reasonably warm but not too hot. If you open the greenhouse door during the day, remember to close it in time to trap some warm air in there overnight.

Stake the plants once they’re growing well and try to plant your tomatoes with the trusses facing south – this helps them when ripening later in the season.

Feed them with blood, bone and fish as they grow, and then once they’re 2–3ft tall you can give the plants a drink of liquid fertiliser maxi-crop. This contains lots of iron and is a very good feed for tomatoes.

Is your garden giving you grief? Well, fear not, help is at hand. George Hill is here to answer your gardening problem.

And if we publish your question in next month’s edition we’ll send you a fantastic gardening kit absolutely free! Thisincludes two brand new pairs of dazzling gardening gloves, a stainless steel trowel and ten packs of assorted seedsto get you started. All thanks to Joe’s Garden and Suttons Seeds. Email [email protected] today.

Ask George

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My favourite plant right nowThe forsythia. It’s a lovely shrub withyellow flowers that’s well worth having inthe garden.

The flower garden• Take cuttings from the perennials in

your herbaceous borders to start young plants off

• Finish sowing the last of your hardy annuals

• Get your sweet peas planted out now to let the root systems take hold

• Continue de-heading your daffodils and violas

• If you’ve got plenty of room in your greenhouse, start making up your hanging baskets ready to move outside in June

George in the garden: April

The fruit garden• Mulch your raspberries and blackberries

with well-rotted compost or farmyard manure to give them a liquid feed every time it rains

• Spray your raspberries and apples if you see any early signs of disease

The vegetable patch• Sow your celery now, as well as carrots,

marrows, parsley, courgettes, asparagus and peas

• Plant your main potato varieties like Desiree; this is my favourite variety as it makes lovely chips

Things are really moving on this month, but we need some warm rain to help the garden grow. Without it we’ll struggle,so let’s hope we get those traditional April showers before too long.

George’s focus: pruning back spring and summer plants

As soon as your spring and summer plants have finishedflowering, cut them right back. This will prevent seed headsfrom forming, which can take vital nutrients out of the plant.

New Member Benefit This fantastic 10% discount offer for Oddfellows members at www.suttons.co.uk willbrighten up your garden. Suttons is an internationally renowned supplier of flowerand vegetable seeds, young plants, bulbs, fruit bushes and other horticulturalproducts to amateur gardeners. They have a reputation for quality and service that issecond to none and a remarkable history that goes back over two hundred years.

Members are eligible to receive a 10% discount on anything on the Suttons website,from seeds and bulbs to gardening equipment and greenhouses.

To take advantage of your exclusive Oddfellows 10% discount click here*.

*You will need to be signed in as a member to access the Members' Benefits page.

http://www.oddfellows.co.uk/Site/Content/Gen_Content.aspx?contentid=A5680509-7B5C-42BA-9DDA-C6779E90ADBB

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Sport & leisure

“I’ve never really been ‘sporty’, but I try to keep fit. My local

Oddfellows branch now hosts a walking club. It’s great to get

some fresh air, and we always have a good time.”

Diana - Essex

Sport & leisure


See the sea - 24 AprilOn 24 April you can spend the day enjoying the sea air nearLytham.

The relaxed trip will begin at 10.30am from King George’s Hallin Blackburn where transport will be arranged. Once by thesea, you’ll get the chance for a coastal walk, some lunch andshopping or a wander around Fairhaven Lake.

If you’re interested, please call Nigel on 07966 689 436before the day.

Rambling on - 27 AprilFor the more adventurous among you, try this three hourwalk around Hart Village near Hartlepool on 27 April. Onceyou’ve worked up an appetite you can finish with lunch at theHorseshoe Inn in Levisham.

Contact [email protected] for more details.

Cracking the code - 2 MayOur members from North West Kent will be visiting the famous Bletchley Park on 2 May for a full day out – including guidedtours and a buffet lunch.

Commonly known as the birthplace of modern computing, the buildings here were home to the brave British code-breakersduring WWII and were later made famous through the film Enigma.

Tickets for this fantastic day out cost £35 for members or £40 for non-members. For more details, contact Barbara Huntley on01322 227712 or email [email protected].

For more information on any of these events, or to find another event in your area, visit the Oddfellows events webpage or email [email protected].

Put some spring in your stepThere are hundreds of events organised by the Oddfellows going on across the UKevery month. Here are just a few to get you started...

Come to the rescue - 3 MayVisit the Heath House in Oswestry, Shropshire, on 3 May for athree-course meal and a guided tour.

Made famous by the TV show Country House Rescue, thehouse’s grounds and gardens make for a fantastic day out.

Contact [email protected] for more details.

If you go down to the woods today - 5 MayOur Tunbridge Wells members will be exploring Hemsted ForestCountry Park on 5 May, and the day is open to all. A walk throughthe pine plantation will be followed by lunch at a nearby pub.

Contact Brian on 01580 241616 for more details. Bletchley Park





The latest news from the world around us


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Discoveries


“I’ve promised myself I’ll try new things, and I can do that

thanks to the Oddfellows. My friends never thought I’d try

paragliding, but it was of the best things I’ve ever done!”

Karen - Nottingham

Running wild: why the great outdoors is more important to children than ever

A new National Trust report sheds light on the growingproblem of ‘Nature Deficiency Disorder’ (NDD) amongmobile-mad youngsters.

The findings show that children are losing contact with natureat an alarming rate and this is impacting on their happiness,education and personal development.

Anxious parents, the lure of technology and traffic are justsome of the reasons why today’s children are less likely toclimb trees or build dens than previous generations, says theTrust.

According to the report, NDD is on the rise as a result.

NDD was coined in 2005 by Richard Louv – co-founder of theChildren & Nature Network – to describe the suggested linkbetween “alienation from nature” and “diminished use of thesenses, attention difficulties and higher rates of illness”.

Stephen Moss, the report’s author, said: “The natural world doesn’t come with an instruction manual, so it teaches you to useyour creative imagination.”

Heated debate

New research suggests our human ancestors may havediscovered fire one million years ago.

Scientists in South Africa have found evidence of an earlyhuman species using fire 300,000 years earlier than previouslythought.

The study claims to have found burnt remains of fires andbone fragments at Wonderwerk cave dating back 1.8 millionyears, when our ancestor Homo Erectus roamed the earth.

Determining when humans first began using fire has beenhistorically difficult, and critics believe the remains are theresult of natural fires.

But the scientists involved say the location – 30 meters fromthe cave entrance – indicates fires were started deliberately inthe same spot regularly.





2012 marks the end of a three year funding commitment

to Spinal Research UK – the leading charity

researching the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

In total, the Oddfellows is donating just over £90,000 tosupport clinical researchers across the world, and theresults already look promising.

Dr Mark Bacon, the charity’s Director of Research, explainshow the money is helping during what are exciting times forclinical neuroscience:

Tell us about your role

As the Director of Research, my main responsibilities are to

manage the grants we receive and ensure our research

strategy is based around our key priorities.

There are so many things we want to understand about

spinal cord injuries and how we might repair them that we

have to set priorities.

We don’t do any research in-house, but we supply grants to

academics and other research centres to fund projects using

the best science, regardless of where they are in the world.

The Oddfellows helping to make a differenceWhich priorities are the researchers focusing on at themoment?There’s some exciting research happening into something

called Chondroitinase. This is a biological molecule which

breaks down scar tissue inside the central nervous system.

It’s a bit like cartilage or the other building blocks found in the

body.

It’s got lots of different functions, but we’ve learnt that its

production is increased after a spinal cord injury. This creates

an impenetrable, biochemical barrier that makes it very

difficult for the central nervous system to repair itself. So

we’ve got projects looking at how this happens and how we

might overcome it.

We’re investigating rehabilitation, too, and looking at ways we

can encourage natural repair processes that occur after spinal

cord injuries.

Is there one area of research making particularly goodprogress?Cell-based therapies are delivering some exciting results. One

such therapy involves helper cells called oligodendrocytes

that surround the axons – or nerve fibres – and act as

To announce a significant breakthrough

in this field would be worldwide news,

and I feel we’re in a phase where it’s

actually conceivable.““

Neuron connections within the body



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Health & wellbeing“The Oddfellows give so much. I wish more people

knew about the great services they have to offer.”

Paul - London


Health & wellbeing

insulation for the central nervous system.

Just like a copper wire in an electrical system, nerves need

insulation if they are to work effectively. When a spinal

injury occurs, these helper cells get damaged along with

the axons and the death of one cell can affect multiple

nerve fibres. So we’re developing ways of re-wrapping

those nerve fibres with new insulating cells in the hope that

some of the lost function will return.

What sort of progress has Spinal Research made since

it started?

Twenty years ago, our research would have looked at what

happens physiologically after a spinal cord injury; we knew

the effect but not the clear cause. But since then we’ve

begun to piece together what goes wrong at a cellular level.

We’re moving into a different phase now. In the last 10

years we’ve gone from basic fundamental science to an era

where we might actually use that knowledge to develop

successful treatments.

There’s still the basic science to be done, but we’re at a

point where clinical trials are being planned. It’s a really

exciting place to be.

How have public attitudeschanged towards this areaof research?I think people are beginning

to realise that a spinal cord

injury can happen to

anyone. But we all have a

lot on our minds, so

elevating it to a point where

the general public recognise

it as a high priority – that’s

the big challenge.

Ours is one of the most

difficult areas of medicine to

publicise. Advances can

seem slow – even glacial at times – but research is

constantly developing.

Do you think there will come a time when medicine willactually be able to help someone in a wheelchair to walkagain?I think it’s reasonable to conceive of a time where we have

much better treatments than we do now. But every

individual’s cure priority comes from the perspective of their

individual injury.

For example, a sufferer who cannot breathe unaided would

see the ability to breathe unaided once more as a far greater

priority than being able to walk.

Inevitably, the newsworthy event will come when medicine

gets someone in a wheelchair to walk again. Yet just

because we haven’t done that so far, it doesn’t mean we

aren’t making progress.

Some time in the relatively near future we might have drugs

which can be administered soon after an accident to limit

spinal cord injuries.

And we might improve the arsenal of treatments at our

disposal for that patient later on, restoring function further

and improving their quality of life significantly. But we must

recognise that the treatment people receive now is just

rehabilitation – there’s still no effective cure.

There’s a broad spectrum of outcomes for someone with a

spinal cord injury, and the recovery of anything that gives

them a greater quality of life will be a major achievement.

Final word...To announce a significant breakthrough in this field would be

worldwide news. It would be a game-changer, and I feel

we’re in a phase of research now where it’s actually

conceivable.

Dr Mark Bacon is the Director of Research at SpinalResearch. For more information about fundraising, or thecharity, please contact Anna Coassin on 01483 898786or visit www.spinal-research.org. Or you can text SPIN41£5 to 70070 to donate £5 to Spinal Research.

Investors advised: be vigilant as boiler roomfraudsters get desperate


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“When I had money worries the Oddfellows put

me in touch with the right people who could

help. They were with me every step of the way.”

Pam - Cambridgeshire

Money


Warnings over share fraud schemes saved investors up to £1m last year, according to new figures from the FinancialServices Authority.

Statistics show the number of people contacted by “boiler room” fraudsters – so-called because of the cramped, highpressureoffices in which the traditionally work – actually increased by 19% in 2011 compared to 2010. But the message to investors tokeep their money safe appears to be getting through, with a 7% drop in the number of people investing in fraudulent schemes.

Now, to help people remain vigilant, the FSA has launched a new online video that explains how to spot fraudsters. It detailswhat boiler room fraud is, how it operates and, most importantly, how consumers can avoid becoming victims. View it onlinenow.

Jonathan Phelan, the FSA’s head of unauthorised business, said: “It’s encouraging that the number of people who actuallyparted with their money has dropped. This suggests our warnings about unauthorised firms are getting through.”

Boiler room fraud normally involves using phone calls and high-pressure sales tactics to convince investors to part with theirmoney. Victims are persuaded to invest in non-tradable, overpriced or even non-existent shares run by unauthorised overseascompanies whose actions aren’t covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Those who fall prey rarely get their money back, losing an average of £20,000 – and the FSA believes fraudsters aredeveloping evermore sophisticated deceptions. Some 450 cloned firms were reported in 2011 – three times as many as in theyear before. Phelan added: “A 7% drop in victims might seem small, but it’s possible that around a million pounds in consumerlosses may have been prevented.

“The strongest weapon against scams remains common sense. Check who you’re dealing with and never forget that if itsounds too good to be true then it probably is.”

The FSA advises anyone concerned that they’ve been contacted by a suspicious company to contact0845 6061234 or report the incident online.

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/doing/regulated/law/alerts/form.shtml

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/doing/regulated/law/alerts/form.shtml





Special offer for membersMembers can take advantage of exclusive discount offers, available throughout the year. See below for detailsabout one of the discounts available. To access other special offers, log on to the members’ section of thewebsite www.oddfellows.co.uk and click on members’ benefits.

Offers

DISCLAIMER: Links to third-party sites do not constitute an endorsement by the Oddfellows and use of theadvertised products and services is entirely at your risk. The Oddfellows does not accept any liability orresponsibility for any third-party material appearing in the e-zine or on the website. The Oddfellows has notinvestigated the claims made by any advertiser and product information is based solely on material receivedfrom suppliers.

10% off French cooking holidays with Cook in France. Learn to cook the way you’vealways dreamed on one of these fun, friendly cooking holidays in South-West France.They offer flexible programmes to suit novice, intermediate and advanced cooks alike.And there’s no washing up to do either.

50% off limited edition Royal Wedding dolls from Arklu.com. Celebrate the marriage ofPrince William and Princess Catherine with your very own collectable. Each doll isnumbered and Arklu will make a £1 donation to the RNLI from each sale.

15% off over 15,000 designer led gifts, art and homeware at Bouf.com

Buy one get one free on 100% natural soluble food supplements from ‘Works withWater’. They’re scientifically proven to help maintain low cholesterol, blood pressureand healthy skin.

15% off comprehensive exercise programmes with Home Exercise and Rehab. Thesevideo programmes are suitable for all – whether you’re recovering from injury, havemuscle or joint problems or just want to stay fit.

Congratulations!Well done to Terence Johnson from Hull and Audrey Naylor from Ipswich – you’veboth won a fantastic prize package to attend the Springhead Brewery’s first annualbeer festival. Thanks to everyone else who entered; keep reading Friendsceneevery month for more chances to win other prizes.

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eZine April 2012