eZine January 2012

OddfellowsInternationalMembership

since 1810

Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | January 2012 | Edition 13

Happy New Year!In this issue: • The year’s biggest events revealed • Tom Hiddleston talks about his new film• District profile: Deeside• George in the garden – 2012 planner• ... and much more

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Welcome to the January 2012 edition of the e-zine,exclusively for all Oddfellows members.

Our District profile heads to Deeside – and we have ourusual selection of latest news and features, just for ourmembers. We hope you enjoy reading.

If you have a story to tell then why not share it with us?Email [email protected], call 0161 832 9361 orfind us on Twitter @the_oddfellows.

You can find us on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook byclicking on the icons below.



This month we look ahead to some of theexciting events due to happen this year.

We explore the historical origins of those hard-to-keep New Year’s resolutions, while ourresident gardener George Hill offers his green-fingered tips for the next 12 months.

Rising British star Tom Hiddleston shares hisexperiences of working with Steven Spielberg,as the eagerly-awaited adaptation of War Horsehits the big screen.

A message from the Grand MasterAfter a frantic festive season, the New Year has arrived – and with it somebig challenges and successes for us all.

There have been some fantastic examples of Branches recruiting newmembers in 2011. And as we enter the year of the London Olympics, I’d liketo personally ask that Branches continue to carry the torch of recruitmentout into their local areas.

There are so many benefits to being an Oddfellow – so let’s get out thereand make our future members aware.

As always, the New Year brings with it a full diary of Society events acrossthe UK – including May’s conference in Southport.

Whichever event you’re planning to organise or attend this year, enjoy it.

And on a personal note, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who hashelped the Society over the past twelve months. However big or small eachcontribution may seem, we couldn’t do it without you.

Happy New Year – I hope that this year brings you all good fortune,happiness and health.

Charles Vaughan, Grand Master(Chairman of the Society)

www.youtube.com/Oddfellows

www.facebook.com/OddfellowsSociety

http://twitter.com/the_oddfellows

The OlympicTorch relaybegins

It will be 60 years sinceHRH Queen Elizabeth IIcame to the throne, andthe nation is planning afour-day weekend ofcelebrations to mark thishistoric occasion.

3Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | January 2012 | Edition 13

Dates for your diaryPlanning your year ahead? Let our list of 2012’s big events help you decide…

JUNE

2-5

This twice-yearly eventinvites Branches tosend nominatedrepresentatives to aweekend event ofworkshops, debatesand social events.

WeekendSeminar(Stratford-upon-Avon)

The Oddfellows take anall-inclusive break to theItalian Riviera. Stayingfive minutes from thebeach. Full day excursionto Monaco. Call 01709 837353 – Quote‘Oddfellows Trip.’

Spring Break –Diano Marina,£378pp, singlesupplement £44

MARCH

23-25

APRIL

13-17

The Queen’sDiamond Jubileecelebrations

The Oddfellows will taketheir annual summerholiday at the grade-IIlisted BodelwyddanCastle in Denbighshire,North Wales. Call JudithChilds on 01442 203431and quote 44GPA.

JULY

2-6

The Society’s Annual MoveableConference (AMC) headsto the North West for aweek of debates, dinnerdances and discussion.Steeped in the Society’shistory, the AMC remainsat the forefront of itsfuture.

MAY

21-25

AMC 2012Southport

The wait is over –2012 sees the biggestevent in the sportingcalendar come toLondon, with theOlympic Torch relaykicking off thecelebrations.

MAY

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£249pp*(half board)

Summer Holiday 2012 –BodelwyddanCastle, North Wales

*Key Facts - Holiday Offers Terms and conditions apply.Contact the Active Travel Club at [email protected] or call 0161 832 9361 for more details

Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2012 | Edition 03



Dates for your diary(Continued)

After thesuccess of lastyear, Friendship Monthis set to return – biggerand better. Keep intouch with your localBranch to find outwhat’s going on in yourarea. There’ll be lots ofevents planned.

FriendshipMonth 2012

The second workshopsession of the year,designed to informand engage withBranch-nominatedmembers.

WeekendSeminar(Leeds)

Come and enjoy aChristmas trip with theOddfellows at AlvastonHall, set in 41 acres ofCheshire countryside.Call Judith Childs on01442 203431 andquote code 45GPA.

After seven yearsof preparation, theworld’s largest sportingevent comes to the UK.It’s a once-in-a-lifetimeoccasion to see yoursporting heroes andsoak up the atmosphereof the Olympiad.

London 2012OlympicGames

JULY-AUG27-12

SEPTEMBER

2012

SEPTEMBER

21-23

DECEMBER

10-14Turkey &Tinsel HolidayAlvaston HallHotel, Nantwich

£186pp*(based ontwo sharing)

*Key Facts - Holiday Offers Terms and conditions apply.Contact the Active Travel Club at [email protected] or call 0161 832 9361 for more details

Step into 2012 with OddshopNow’s the perfect time to get organised with our new range of 2012 calendars and diaries.The new calendar celebrates the hidden architecture of Lancashire – with stunning picturesselected by the Society’s current Chairman, Charles Vaughan. This 30x23cm planner can beyours for just £3.

And for £2.50 you can get a stylish black and gold pocket diary. It’s set out with a week toview and also includes a brief introduction to the Oddfellows Society. Both are available to order,along with a host of other gifts that are perfect for you or a friend. Click here for details.

http://www.oddfellows.co.uk/site/Content/Oddshop.aspx

Children of the resolutionWith the New Year barely two weeks old, there’s a good chance that any resolutions we’ve made have,at best, been tested – and most likely broken. But, as this article reveals, there’s more to thosetraditional hard-to-keep resolutions than meets the eye...

5Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | January 2012 | Edition 13

Made to be broken...?According to a 2007 study, 88% of peoplewho make New Year’s resolutions fail.Some psychologists even say thatresolutions are doomed to fail if left towillpower alone.

The secret to successIn contrast to the high failure rate of peoplewith vague or broad resolutions, those whofollow a plan are twice as likely to succeed. Our advice: set regular, achievable goals

and reward yourself when you reach them.And don’t be too hard on yourself if you slipup every once in a while!

Do you manage to keep your resolutions?Share your stories by [email protected]

OriginsThe idea of resolving to change or improve

something in our lives dates back more

than 2,000 years. The first known examples

come from the ancient Babylonians.

Later, the Romans began each year with a

promise to their God Janus, after whom

January is named. The Christian and

Jewish faiths both require their followers to

reflect and ask for forgiveness at certain

times of year.

And the fact that New Year’s resolutions are

so popular in westernised countries today

suggests that they have been inspired, in

part, by the traditional Christian practice of

sacrifice at Lent.

Top resolutions – 2012

Get in shape

Eat right

Save money

Quit smoking

Volunteer

More popular than everResearch shows that almost 40% ofpeople now claim to make a New Year’sresolution each year. Resolutions as weknow them usually start on 1 January and,hopefully, last throughout the year. But itisn’t always that easy.

As he continues his meteoric rise to fame with aleading role in new movie War Horse, dashing Britishstar Tom Hiddleston explains why he has no plans totake a break.

What a difference a year makes. Back in 2010, fewcinemagoers had Tom Hiddleston on their radar. Fast forward12 months and the English actor has been a staple on thebig screen, appearing in four films, including KennethBranagh’s Thor and Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris.

His hard work and constant perseverance have already paidoff, winning him a place on the shortlist for the Bafta OrangeWednesdays Rising Star Award alongside Thor co-star ChrisHemsworth and British actors like Chris O’Dowd and EddieRedmayne.

Yet the success hasn’t gone to his head and Hiddleston,looking sharp in a fitted three-piece designer suit andslicked-back hair, still has to pinch himself at times.

“It’s been a very busy year, but it’s great!” says the 30-year-old. “It’s strange because, to be totally honest, before thebeginning of 2010 I had only made one feature film in myentire life, and then I made five in the space of 12 months.”

As well as playing villain Loki in Thor and American author FScott Fitzgerald in Allen’s nostalgic romantic drama, theLondon-born actor has starred in mentor Joanna Hogg’sArchipelago and Terence Davies’s period piece The DeepBlue Sea, alongside Rachel Weisz.

Fans don’t have to wait long for his next movie appearance,as he portrays debonair cavalry officer Captain Nicholls in WarHorse, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the stage play basedon Michael Morpurgo’s novel.

“It’s been a roller coaster ride. The directors I’ve worked with inthe space of one year are on the wish list of the directors I’dlike to work with in a lifetime,” says Eton-educated Hiddleston.

“To go from Kenneth Branagh to Steven Spielberg to WoodyAllen to Terence Davies – all four of them are some of the mostaccomplished cinematic artists in living memory and in thehistory of cinema. I’ve been very, very lucky.”

Set amid the backdrop of the First World War, War Horsecentres on the close connection between a young boy, Albert,played by Jeremy Irvine, and his horse Joey. Hiddleston’scharacter buys Joey, only to ride him into the battlefield.

“The experience of the film is breathtaking. Just because it’s awar film, it’s about hope and courage and perseverance, setagainst the shocking waste of that particular war,” saysHiddleston.

“This story about one horse is really about the durability andthe courage of the human spirit. Steven told me he’d beenlooking for a story to tell about the First World War for a while,and then he saw the stage show and was moved beyondwords by it.”

Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2012 | Edition 03

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From Casualty to SpielbergTom Hiddleston as Captain Nicholls

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Hiddleston won the role in War Horse after impressing theOscar-winning director, who likens him to screen legend ErrolFlynn. The admiration is mutual.

“He’s a master craftsman,” says the actor. “Steven gave methe most amazing note during the cavalry charge.

“He said: ‘Give me your war face at the top of the shot, butas you feel the camera move across your face, I want you tode-age yourself by 20 years. I want to see the child in you.’That was one of the most astonishing acting notes I’ve everbeen given.”

The role has also given him a new appreciation of horses. “Allthrough the film, I noticed that whatever I was feeling, thehorses would reflect back to me,” he says. “They sense fear,arrogance, and they can sense a kind of inner peace.”

It was also challenging at times, as he had to master ridingon a horse with weapon in hand.

Hiddleston, who got a double first in Classics fromCambridge, confesses he’s like an excitable child on set,because he’s deeply passionate about his job. “I love acting– I love shooting a scene and the moment of creation,” hesays.

He was inspired to act after watching a Henrik Ibsen play.“When I was 14, I saw John Gabriel Borkman with VanessaRedgrave and Eileen Atkins. It wasn’t an easy time in my lifeat that age and I felt a unity of understanding in the audience.

“But I don’t want to be too po-faced about it. Long before Isaw the play, I saw Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones andwanted to do that too.

“Some of the great times of my life were in Thor and TheAvengers, where it’s superheroes, gods and flying throughspace and time.”

Hiddleston made his screen debut in the ITV film The Lifeand Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby in 2001. A handful of TVroles in Wallander, Cranford and Casualty, as well as stageparts in The Changeling, Cymbeline and Othello, soonfollowed.

“It feels very rewarding because success didn’t happeninstantly,” he admits.

“It hasn’t been easy and there has been rejection along theway. It’s a tough profession but it’s also the best job in theworld. It has taken me 10 years and I’ve had to questionmyself and do a lot of soul-searching in that time.”

After such a busy year, other actors may be itching to puttheir feet up, but not Hiddleston. He is reprising his role asMarvel baddie Loki in The Avengers (opposite Robert

Downey Jr, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans) before the forthcoming sequel, Thor 2.

“I grew up watching the bad guys. The best characters in TimBurton’s Batman and Die Hard are Jack Nicholson’s Jokerand Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber, so this year’s a fulfilmentof a long-held dream where I get to be the ultimate baddie ina big blockbuster,” he says. “That’s cool! I’m aware of theprivilege of being in that position.”

Hiddleston, who is dating Wallander co-star SusannahFielding, is also preparing to play Henry V in a BBCadaptation.

“I’m in a blessed and privileged position because all actorswant to do is work – and I’ve been working a lot,” he says.


EXTRA TIMEHorses on filmAs Joey emerges as the real star of War Horse, here’s alook back at other recent movies celebrating horses

:: Black Beauty (1994): Alan Cumming lends his voice to the famous stallion in the fifth feature film adaptation of Anna Sewell’s 1877 classic novel

:: The Horse Whisperer (1998): Robert Redford directs and plays a talented trainer with a gift for understanding horses

:: Seabiscuit (2003): Gary Ross’s film is based on the true story of the unlikely champion US thoroughbred, who became a symbol of hope during the Great Depression

:: Secretariat (2010): Another true-life tale charts the success of thoroughbred racehorse Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown in 1973.

War Horse opens in cinemas on January 13

Hiddleton’s co-star Jeremy Irvine

District profile: Deeside

Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2012 | Edition 03Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2012 | Edition 13




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Deeside District as we know it was created in 1948 after theamalgamation of five smaller Districts.

For the next 50 years, it held its meetings at the Oddfellows Hall – a grade-two listed building in Chester city centre. Its members took the decision tomove to Saltney in 1998 and have never looked back since.

As it stands, Deeside covers some of the UK’s most breathtaking scenery –stretching across North and West Wales, the Wirral and parts of Cheshire.Taking in Denbighshire, Anglesey, Wrexham and Chester, as well as ColwynBay and Flintshire, the District today consists of four mainLodges – City of Chester, Wepre and Gladstone, Briton’s Prideand Woodhouse and Gwynedd.

Making friendsBenefiting from a large number of active members, the Districtorganises at least one social event each month. On top of this,some members meet for weekly coffee mornings, fortnightlyScrabble clubs and theatre trips.

“We love meeting new people and entertaining,” says DistrictSecretary Denise Turner, “and all of our events are open tonew-comers.”

Helping peopleDespite being a relatively small District, Deeside makes a largecontribution to the community locally and nationally. In recentyears, two local members have risen to the position ofChairman of the Society, while two others have been awardedthe Meritorious Service Jewel – the Society’s highest honour.

And with a history of strong fundraising, Deeside members’links with the local area have led to a long line of donations tocharitable causes.

For more details call Denise on 01244 675757, [email protected] or click here for the Districts’events page.

Vital statistics• Established in 1948

• There are 889 members in the District today

• The District meets once a month atthe Oddfellows Hall, 65 High Street, Saltney, Chester CH4 8SG

Meet the teamDistrict Chairman: Lesley JenksAfter joining the Society in 2001, Les has been aconstantly active member – getting involved with allaspects of his Branch and District.

District Secretary: Denise TurnerA member for 27 years, Denise has been a FinancialLodge Secretary since 2007 and has held her currentposition once before.

Social Organiser and Welfare Officer: Rose CugleyA dedicated member for nearly 50 years, Rose is oneof only a handful of members to receive theMeritorious Service Jewel in honour of heroutstanding contribution to the Oddfellows. Duringher time as a member, Rose has been involved in awide range of Society committees and services. Herprevious positions include Branch Secretary (for 40years) District Secretary and Group ConferencePresident.

http://www.oddfellows.co.uk/site/content/BranchEvents.aspx?bID=10019

Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | January 2012 | Edition 13 9

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves: 6

Ingredients1 pint double cream¼ clove garlic3 egg yolks300g Pant Ysgawn goats’ cheese1 egg4 leaves basil slicedCayenne pepper and salt to tasteGrated Parmesan

MethodFor the brûlée1. Warm the double cream with the garlic on a low heat to infuse. Be careful not to let it boil. Allow to cool

and remove garlic.

2. Mix the eggs in a separate bowl, then add the cream and cheese and blend it altogether – but do not whisk. Add the basil, a pinch of salt and cayenne pepper.

3.Divide between six ramekins, then place the ramekins in a tray half-filled with water. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes at 120°C. Chill once cooked.

4. To serve – dust with Parmesan and then glaze with a blow torch, or under the grill.

For the tomato chutney1. Slice the onion and sauté with olive oil until soft.

2. Add the tomatoes, honey, sugar and cook for between 10 and 15 minutes on a medium heat until sticky.

3. Season to taste and then refrigerate.

4. Serve with the brûlée and warm bloomer bread. Enjoy!

Local recipePant Ysgawn brûlée withtomato chutney

1 loaf bloomer bread8 oz plum tomatoes cut into quarters1 medium red onion chopped1 tablespoon honey2 teaspoon white wine vinegar2 oz sugarOlive oil

This recipe was generously supplied by St George’s Hotel, Llandudno, in partnership withGiants North Wales – a cultural tourism initiative http://nwt.co.uk/



George in the gardenTop tips from our resident gardener

Your month-by-month guide to 2012January• Plan ahead to decide what you

want to grow next year• Treat your lawn with lawn fertiliser and

rake off debris

February• Prune your winter-flowering shrubs once

they’ve finished flowering • Prune any recently-planted fruit trees• Dig organic matter into your vegetable

patch

March• Replant any herbaceous plants• Sow your pansies and violas • Sow early onions, parsnips, potatoes or

broad beans• Spray your blackcurrants with fungicide

April• Take cuttings of any herbaceous

perennials• Remove deadheads from your daffodils• Sow your parsley, tomatoes, celery and

celeriac• Spray your raspberries and apples

May• Spray your roses• Lightly spray weed killer on your lawn• Thin your raspberry canes• Plant your runner beans in a sheltered

place

June• Plant your bedding plants• Plant your marrows• Keep your greenhouse plants well-

watered

July• Remove any deadheads from your roses• Sow your biannual plants now• Remove runners from your strawberry plants

and plant them nearby• Prune fruit tree foliage to let fruit ripen• Plant your spring cabbage and leeks

August• Plant your tulip and daffodil bulbs• Move the strawberry plant runners you

planted in July into a greenhouse• Ease off on the watering of your tomatoes

September• Take dahlia cuttings and store inside a

greenhouse• Pick your apples and pears• Lift your onions and store them somewhere dry• Harvest autumnal crops

October• Prune your rambling roses• Pot the bulbs now for your Christmas

flowering plants• Trim your fruit trees• Prune your blackberry bushes

November• Plant the last of your spring bulbs• Pot lily of the valley in a greenhouse• Lift artichokes, parsnips and horseradishes• Plant raspberry and blackberry bushes

December• Move your hyacinth plants inside to flower

at Christmas• Leave deadheads on your hydrangeas to

protect the young buds• Plant new fruit trees and finish off your pruning• Mulch your raspberry and blackcurrant bushes with compost• Dig up leeks and parsnips

Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | January 2012 | Edition 13 11

Across1 - Calming (8)5 - Wrap (anag) (4)8 - Muscular strength (5)9 - Coffee bean crushing device (7)10 - Cigarette constituent (7)12 - Confirms a decision (7)14 - Savage (7)16 - Compensates for (7)18 - Dribble (7)19 - Indian city (5)20 - System of contemplation and exercise (4)21 - Strong type of coffee (8)

Down1 - Cries (4)2 - Roofing material (6)3 - Rockfall (9)4 - Things (anag) (6)6 - Advance evidence for (6)7 - Forgiven (8)11 - One who serves drinks (9)12 - Undeserving (8)13 - In the ___ : about to happen (6)14 - Courtroom officials (6)15 - Templates (6)17 - Joan ___ : Spanish artist (4)

SolutionAcross:1 - SETTLING, 5 - WARP, 8 - BRAWN, 9 - GRINDER, 10 - TOBACCO, 12 - UPHOLDS, 14 -UNTAMED, 16 - OFFSETS, 18 - TRICKLE, 19 - DELHI, 20 - YOGA, 21 - EXPRESSODown: 1 - SOBS, 2 - THATCH, 3 - LANDSLIDE, 4 - NIGHTS, 6 - ADDUCE, 7 - PARDONED, 11 - WAITER,12 - UNWORTHY, 13 - OFFING, 14 - USHERS, 15 - MOULDS, 17 - MIRO

CrosswordAs it’s the New Year, wethought we’d include thiscrossword as a little extra foryou – good luck!


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Extra benefits for Oddfellows members Members can take advantage of five discount offers, available throughout the year and exclusive tomembers of the Oddfellows:

To find out more about these products and to access the special discounts, log onto the memberssection of the website www.oddfellows.co.uk and click on members benefits.

DISCLAIMER: Links to third party sites do not constitute an endorsement by the Oddfellows and useof the advertised products and services is entirely at your risk. The Oddfellows do not accept anyliability or responsibility for any third party material appearing in the ezine or on the website. TheOddfellows has not investigated the claims made by any advertiser and product information is basedsolely on material received from suppliers.


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eZine January 2012