eZine September 2011

OddfellowsInternationalMembership

since 1810

Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09

Celebrity interview: Jonathan Ross

In this issue:

• Celebrity interview: Jonathan Ross

• News from Denmark

• George in the garden

• Branch profile: Cardiff

• … and much more

2

Welcome to the September edition of the monthlyonline magazine for Oddfellows members

And we have our usual selection of stories and features,including fantastic photos from our recent trip to theFjords of Norway.

We hope you enjoy reading this as much as weenjoyed writing it. If you have a story to tell then whynot share it? Email [email protected]

Our first annual Friendship month has got off to a flying start thisSeptember with Branches across the UK organising theirfriendship-themed events.

The campaign was inspired by research that suggests peoplewith more friends tend to be healthier and less stressed.

Events so far include country walks, coffee mornings and a MadHatterʼs tea party. Thereʼs even been a Last of the SummerWine fancy-dress evening.

New members have joined as a result, with Branches from Buryto Blackburn welcoming new friends to the Society.

And the month isnʼt over just yet. There arestill lots more friendship events happeningso contact [email protected] or call0800 028 1810 to find an event in your area.Alternatively you can follow us on Twitter(@the_oddfellows) or find us on Facebook.

Friendship month in full swing



This month we speak to the acclaimed – and oftencontroversial – chat show host Jonathan Ross. Hereveals to us his big plans for his new TV show, as wellas admitting he’d jump at the chance to interviewRussell Brand one day.

We travel to Denmark to find out about the eventful pastand promising future of our overseas members.

This month’s Branch profile is Cardiff, so we head toWales to see what’s going on.

3

The Rotherham Branch of the Oddfellows celebrated thecompletion of its newly refurbished home this month.

Oddfellows House was officially reopened by the Mayor,Councillor Shaun Wright, on 6 September after asustained period of investment in the Branch’s future.

The ceremony marked the completion of two years’work on the buildings during which time meeting rooms,offices and other facilities were extended andrefurbished.

Lesley Hall, the Branch’s Finance Officer, said:“Everyone who came along was offered a cup of teaand a bun and the chance to find out more about whatit’s like to be a member.”

Mayor unveils major refurbishment at Oddfellows House


Oddfellows members around the country havebeen doing their bit for Help for Heroes, the charitythat raises funds for members of the UK armedservices wounded in the line of duty.

One of the most successful recent events was acoffee morning hosted by the Leeds Oddfellows.

The event, which took place at the MeanwoodInstitute on 9 September, surpassed allexpectations by raising more than £600 for charity.

Local Oddfellows members spent weeks preparing– among them Peggy Ashton (pictured), whobrought homemade jam and knitted toys to sell.

There was also a tombola, a cake stand and plentyof good conversation. Entry cost £1, and all moneyraised from the event went to the charity.

Bryn Parry OBE, CEO and co-founder of Help forHeroes, said: “The Oddfellows’ wonderful fundraisingis welcomed. They should be congratulated and, onbehalf of all those the money benefits, thanked. Welldone, Oddfellows – great effort!”

Coffee morning raises hundreds for charity

Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2011 | Edition 03

4



Members about to embark on their flight

The Balmoral cruise liner

A group of 16 Oddfellows headed to Southampton in July to board theBalmoral cruise liner and set sail for an eight-night cruise around Norway’sfamous Fjords.

The spectacular scenery made for an unforgettable experience, and threemembers even took to the skies for a helicopter ride. One of them, JohnWatson, said: “Flying so low over glaciers was so exciting. I’ll never forget it.”

There were themed evenings throughout the trip such as rock and roll andinternational nights. The group also enjoyed its very own complimentarycocktail party.

There were plenty of daytime activities too. Despite not playing golf, WendyAtkins, group escort and Provincial Corresponding Secretary for Ipswich

Branch, managed to win the putting competition. “Watch out, Tiger,” said Wendy after collecting her prize. The boules teamplayed as well, and the quiz team also won three bottles of Champagne, so all in all the holiday was a resounding success.

Watch the trip online!

Did you know you can watch videos from theNorway Fjords trip on the Oddfellows Youtube®channel?

Over 100 of you have watched it already and,what’s more, there are nearly 50 other videos to choose from.

Why not check them out today? Or you can upload clips of your ownBranch events for others to enjoy. So start filming and your videoscould soon be being enjoyed by Oddfellows around the world!Go to Oddfellows Youtube® channel

Contact [email protected] for more information on uploading.

Members go cruisingon the Fjords

Wendy Atkins - Ipswich Branch

5Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | September 2011 | Edition 09

The values that shape the Oddfellows Society as we know it canbe found all around the globe.

One organisation that shares our ideals is the international Order ofOddfellows (IOOF), which was founded in 1819 in Baltimore, USA.

It’s to this organisation that Oddfellows members in present-dayDenmark can trace their roots.

A nation of 5.5 million people, Denmark is spread across morethan 400 islands, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Research has identified the country as the happiest in the world.Little wonder, then, that the concept of friendship as expressedthrough the Oddfellows has been a feature of life for more than100 years.

The IOOF’s founding principles – to support others in times ofneed and hardship – first reached Europe in the late 19th century,when the first Danish Branch was founded back in 1878 inCopenhagen.

From those humble beginnings, the country’s membership hasgrown to over 14,500 today. They now meet at 205 Branches andtheir events are as popular as ever.

Danish Oddfellows see their role in society as both practical andethical. It’s not enough for them to simply regard their beliefs astheoretical – to them words alone are not enough.

They aim to support their fellow members – and members of thepublic – in the way the IOOF’s founders did when they took theirinspiration from their UK counterparts all those years ago.

Like Oddfellows members anywhere in the world, they believetheir efforts will encourage others to share the joys and benefitsthat Oddfellows membership brings.

Overseas Oddfellows

Below: some of the Oddfellows buildingsaround Denmark

As the furore following Sachsgate finally settles,Jonathan Ross speaks to us about his highlyanticipated new ITV chat show. Jonathan Ross was

once the BBC's golden boy – earning a reported £18 millionin a three-year deal that made him the channel's highestpaid star.

Then one day in 2008, he and close friend Russell Branddecided to make a misjudged phone call to Fawlty Towers’actor Andrew Sachs during Brand's Radio 2 show andboom, the good times were over. Ross bowed out from hisacclaimed Friday night chat show last July and has kept arelatively low profile since, but now he's ready to make hisreturn to prime time TV with a brand new chat show on ITV1.

"We want it to be a good, big, fun entertainment show," says50-year-old Ross ahead of the launch. "It's a once-a-weekevent, hopefully with the best guests in TV. We'll find outabout them, but also see them relax and have a good time."Christening the new sofa will be Sex And The City star SarahJessica Parker, Formula One racing champion LewisHamilton and multi-platinum selling artist Adele, who'll alsoperform a song from her chart-topping album, 21.

"Adele is just about the biggest music star in the world rightnow, but also a lovely and very funny woman with a greatstory," says Ross, who admits he relishes the opportunity tomeet his music idols.

"There are so many talented people out there and I've beenlucky enough to not only interview them but see them

perform live," he says, having chosen Roxy Music to singhim out on his last BBC chat show appearance. He addsthat his three teenage kids – Betty Kitten, Harvey Kirby andHoney Kinney – with his screenwriter wife Jane Goldman,influence his choice of guests.

"I know all the new Jessie J and Nicki Minaj stuff becauseof my kids," he says, adding that he returns the favour bysharing his favourite classics. "I make them listen to oldmusic which sometimes they really enjoy but sometimeshate. "In the same way that I’ll watch almost anything, I'lllisten to almost anything,” he admits. “But it’s great havingmy kids to help steer me in the right direction." Born inCamden, north London, Ross grew up in Leytonstone withhis four brothers.

After graduating from the University of London, heexperienced his first taste of television by working as aresearcher for Channel 4's Loose Talk and later a showcalled Solid Soul, where he met Alan Marke. Together theydevised Ross's breakthrough show The Last Resort WithJonathan Ross, which debuted in 1987.

The show was a world away from the polite presentingstyle of Alan Whicker or Terry Wogan and Ross admits a lotof his influences are American. "I love David Letterman,Johnny Carson when he was on, Jimmy Fallon and JimmyKimmel," he says. "Over here I used to love Parky when Iwas a kid growing up, but my favourite at the moment isAlan Carr [who used to be Ross's warm up act].

The king of chat is back

Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2011 | Edition 03

6



7

The Ross family at the recent Harry Potter premier

Alan's sweet and fun. I love Alan, he's great." Though short-lived, The Last Resort catapulted Ross’s career and in theensuing years he's hosted live spectacles including ComicRelief, The British Comedy Awards and The BAFTAs, as wellas becoming a regular panellist on They Think It's All Over.

Then in 1999, Ross took over from Barry Norman as host ofthe BBC’s film review programme, as well as beginning hisown Radio 2 show. Finally, in 2001, his comedy chat showFriday Night With Jonathan Ross was launched. Irreverentin nature, it turned the presenter into a household namewith viewers delighting in his ability to get famous names torelax and (usually) laugh at themselves. "As the interviewerit’s my job to put people at ease and bring the best out inthem," says Ross. "I think it's important to let people knowyou're not there to attack them.

If you need to ask them something that's difficult orawkward, you need to clear it in advance." He recallsinterviewing Cheryl Cole shortly after her split from husbandAshley. "I said, 'Look, I'm going to have to ask you aboutthis. I won't make the whole interview about it, but I have toask', and Cheryl said it was fine. "I felt that was the politething to do and it would have been wrong to pretend itwasn't on the agenda. I try to be straight with people." Hewants to continue in that vein on this latest venture.

"My show isn't in-depth. If someone's had an upset in theirlife I might touch on it but then I move on. I like to keep myshow light, to create a party atmosphere and for guests tohave a good time," he says. As is the showbiz way, many ofhis interviewees have yet to be confirmed for the eight-partseries, but Ross admits to having a wish list. "Mike Tysonwould be fascinating and I'd love to interview JackNicholson, but he doesn't do TV shows. I've neverinterviewed Dame Judi Dench, so I'd love to, and alsoMaggie Smith." Then there's Hollywood's super couple BradPitt and Angelina Jolie.

"I'm working on Brad because I've got friends who arefriends of his," Ross reveals. And despite the past, he'd evenlike to get his Russell Brand on the sofa. "It would be greatto get Russell and [his wife, the pop star] Katy on the showtogether, that would be good fun." Looking back on a careerthat's spanned almost 25 years, Ross takes a moment toweigh up his happiest interviews. "I've got loads of favouritesand some of them I hope to get back on," he says. "I loveSylvester Stallone and Christopher Walken is always greatfun.

“Oddly, some people who you don't expect to be good funturn out to be, like John Malkovich. I expected him to bevery highbrow and quite serious about what he does, but inactual fact he was delightfully silly and relaxed."


EXTRA TIMEJONATHAN ROSS

:: He was born on November 17, 1969, in London.

:: His actress mum, Martha Ross, was a regular extra on EastEnders.

:: Ross was reprimanded by the BBC for explicit comments he made to Gwyneth Paltrow during an interview in 2008.

:: The talk show host was awarded an OBE in 2005.

:: As a comic book fan, he recently launched his own called Turf, a crime-thriller set in Prohibition-era New York which features gangsters, vampires and aliens.

Ross is clearly a fan of the nation's great dames as HelenMirren also gets a special mention. "She's great and iscoming on the show again, and I also love Hugh Jackmanwho’s coming back on," says Ross. "The only problemwith having Hugh on is that I know he feels inferior to mephysically, in terms of looks, so I've decided to let myselfgo a little bit, in order to make him feel more at ease."Cheeky, charming and just a little bit childish, Ross mayhave changed channels but no doubt his chat show'sgoing to be as controversial and entertaining as ever.

Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2011 | Edition 03Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2011 | Edition 09



This month we head west to the Welsh capital of Cardiff.Here Mary Sparks, Branch Secretary, takes us back in timeto reveal the Society’s rich history in the city:

The Cardiff Branch owes its origins to the ancient town ofCaerphilly. In 1834 the St Cenydd Lodge was establishedthere, followed by nine others in the surrounding area. In 1837Cardiff’s first Branch – Castell Caerdydd Lodge – was opened.Membership grew and more lodges quickly followed. By theend of the 19th century Cardiff was thriving – andOddfellowship was growing too.

In 1899 the Oddfellows Hall and Institute was opened inCharles Street in the city centre to cater for the ever-increasingmembership. Numbers continued to grow and by 1935 theBranch had over 10,000 members across over 40 Lodges.Many members benefited from the benevolence available tothem long before the National Health Service came along in1948.

Members continued to meet at Charles Street until 1958 whenthey sold the building to Marks & Spencers. They then movedto Newport Road and have been there ever since. The historyof their new home dates back to 1858. Its previous ownersinclude the Consul of Spain and the Blood Transfusion service,which moved there in 1949. When the Oddfellows moved innine years later, members had the macabre experience offinding pints of blood stored in the basement!

By 2005 the costs of maintaining the building became toomuch so the Branch decided to sell. However, it was sold withthe assurance that the Oddfellows Society could rent part ofthe ground floor – and this is where we are today.

Today Oddfellows House is the only original villa left in thearea. The new owners have renovated the site and, althoughwe now share the site with three other firms, the nameOddfellows House lives on.

We currently have 550 members, one Financial Lodge andseven informal lodges. The Branch has members living inBrecon, Merthyr, Crickhowell, Aberdare, Abergavenny,Monmouth and Cowbridge – some of which are 40 miles awayfrom Cardiff.

There is always plenty going on here, likebirthday parties, fish and chip suppers and Royalevent celebrations. Membership keeps growningand the Branch’s future is looking bright.To get involved or for more informationcall Mary on 029 20488585.

Branch profile: Cardiff District

Mary Sparks

Prov GM Gloria James and husband John

Oddfellows House 2006

Oddfellows House 2011


8


This month’s Branch profile is Cardiff – the Welsh capital. So we’vetaken a trip to Wales to find out more about this small but fiercelyproud city.

Home to nearly 350,000 people, Cardiff owes much of its prosperity tothe industrial revolution. It grew rapidly thanks to the vast coal reserves inthe nearby Welsh valleys, and, despite that industry’s decline, it remainsan exciting and prosperous city today.

Cardiff’s rich history• The city dates back to 55AD, when its first Roman fort was built

• It takes its name from the Roman general Aulus Didius. Caer Didi means Fort of Didius

• In the late 19th century Cardiff became the largest coal-exporting port in the world. Its dominance peaked in 1913, when over 10 million tons of the black stuff passed through

• Captain Scott set sail for the last time from here in 1910 – aboard his ship Terra Nova – heading for the South Pole

• The city has hosted major sporting events including the 1958 Commonwealth Games and the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

The big five attractions• Cardiff Castle – there is nearly 2,000 years of history here. You can

see the Roman walls, Norman keeps and refurbished Victorian interiors

• National Museum – home to one of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings outside Paris, including work by Monet and Cezanne

• Millennium Stadium – you can tour the 74,000-seater stadium andeven sit in the Queen’s seat in the Royal box

• Wales Millennium Centre – home to ballet, opera, dance and musicals

• Techniquest – over 160 hands-on exhibits inside to entertain the whole family, including a planetarium.

Information and photos courtesy of www.visitcardiff.com

Focus on: Cardiff

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Bay waterfront

Millennium Centre

9



Local recipeWelshcakes

Welshcakes are always a delicious treat. They’re similar to English scones but much tastier. They wereoriginally cooked on the hot plate of a coal oven but can easily be cooked in a heavy non-stick frying panor on a griddle.

Fabulous Welshcakes, in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff, makes world-famous Welshcakes. The recipe is topsecret, but here’s a similar recipe for Oddfellows readers to make at home.

Preparation time: 15 minutesCooking time: 6 minutesTotal time: 21 minutes

Ingredients: 8 oz/ 225g self-raising flour 4 oz/ 100g butter 1 tsp mixed spice 3 oz/ 75g caster sugar 3 oz/ 75g mixed sultanas and currants Pinch of salt The grated rind of half a lemon1 large beaten egg A touch of milk to blend if needed

Preparation: Sieve the flour, salt and spice into a mixing bowl. Rub in thebutter until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar,lemon rind and dried fruit and mix. Pour in the beaten egg and stir tomake a firm dough, adding a tiny dash of milk if the dough looks toodry. Add the milk in small amounts to avoid making the dough too sloppy.

Roll the dough to approximately 5mm thick. Cut into squares or circles with a5cm cutter.

Fry the Welshcakes on a medium-hot griddle for approximately three minutes per side, turning once, until nicelygolden brown on both sides. It should still be slightly soft in the middle. If you do not have a griddle then use a lightlybuttered, heavy-base frying pan. Finish by dusting with caster sugar while still hot.

Welshcakes are best eaten hot but will keep for up to 10 days in an airtight container. You can also serve them withlightly whipped fresh cream and preserves.

If all this cooking is just too much for you, head to Cardiff and look up Fabulous Welshcakes(www.fabulouswelshcakes.com), where Jo Roberts will be delighted to serve you the special in-house recipe. She still won’t tell you how they make them, though!

September is the month that brings the first signs ofautumn. We might get our first frost this month, andit’s the time to plant a new lawn or pick some applesfor cooking.

My favourite plant right nowThe Michaelmas daisy is lovely at the moment. It’llgrow almost anywhere; just work the soil well beforeplanting and add compost to help it grow.

Ballard is a good variety with a wonderful selection ofcolours. Blue Wood is another nice one, and VioletQueen is a sturdy plant for the front of yourherbaceous border.

Flower gardenIt’s time to cut back your herbaceous borders andtidy them up before the winter. Cut down your dahliasnow and store them inside a greenhouse or shed.

Turn them upside-down so that any moisture in thestem runs out and it dries completely. Be careful withdahlias during the winter as they are very popular andexpensive to replace.

LawnSow your lawn this month to avoid it drying out. Seedsowing is the cheapest and best way to do it. Workyour soil well first – fork it, rake it, roll it, then rake itagain. The surface should be nice and level with nodivots for potential water-logging.

Use 40 grams of seed for each square metie of lawn.If it’s a feature lawn then use a seed with no rye-grassin it. But if it’s a lawn for playing on then use a mixtureof half rye-grass and half brown-top for a good all-weather, all-purpose surface.

If you need a lawn in a hurry then turf is the answer.Prepare the soil as you would for seeds, then lay theturf like a bricklayer laying bricks so that the joints

interlock. Make sure it’slaid firm and it’ll then lookafter itself.

Vegetable gardenIt’s a quiet month in the vegetable garden. Keep youreye on your plants and continue harvesting yourautumnal crops. Your onions will be ready so lift themand store them somewhere to dry until the tops wither.Once dry, cut off the tops and store the onions in a cooldry place until you need them.

Fruit gardenPick your Bramley apples now and you can keep themuntil next Easter in a frost-proof place. Howgate Wonderis a newer, sweeter variety that doesn’t require muchsugar when you cook it. If you find your Bramley treegrows too vigorously then the Howgate Wonder is amore compact tree that crops well.

Pick your pears now too. Winter Nellis is a good strainthat you can store until Christmas. But Doyenne duComice is the aristocrat of pears. It’s sweet, beautifullyflavoured and so juicy that eating it can be a messybusiness – well worth growing.

Secrets to improve your patch• Keep your dahlia cuttings in a frost-proof place like a

cellar or shed and insulate with foam or carpet

• When you cut your dahlias, use a fork so you don’t damage the bulb or roots

• One Michaelmas daisy can give you seven good years before you need to replant it

• When you split your Michaelmas daisies, separate the young outer shoots from the older middle wood for best results

• Try growing your pear tree against a south-facing wall for better crops.


George in the gardenTop tips from our resident gardener

11

Documents

eZine September 2011