Friends for life
IT SEEMED like the end of the world when Edna Palmer’s husband, Albert, died. They had shared so many of life’s experiences and suddenly Edna was alone. Edna, a retired equal opportunities worker from Southport, felt isolated and didn’t know which way to turn. And then she reached out to her local Oddfellows friendship group and, while nothing can truly replace the comfort of being with Albert, Edna has a raft of new people around her. “It’s eight years since I joined Oddfellows,” says Edna, 67. “When I lost Albert I must say I was a bit lost. As soon as I was persuaded to join by a friend I was hooked.” For more than two centuries the Oddfellows has been serving up a unique recipe of friendship and support. There are now 310,000 members across 129 branches nationwide offering five key ingredients. First come the regular social events (from coffee mornings to craft sessions, lunch clubs to guest talks, countryside walks to fascinating excursions) but there is also the welfare members can rely on, such as a care helpline, financial aid and convalescence care.
Add the Active Travel Club (organising regular short breaks and group holidays, including cruises, tailored to special interests), special offers (money off from top names as well as discounted health insurance) and access to the Oddfellows archive (filled with 200 years of genealogical, social and organisational history) and there’s not only support but plenty more. “I wanted to meet friends, and now I love it,” says Edna. “We have visits to stately homes, theatre trips and meals out, things I enjoy and used to do with my husband.
“I go on nearly all of the events – you get to meet people within Oddfellows and it leads you into other friendships as well.”
Established in 1810, the Oddfellows is one of the largest and oldest friendly societies in the United Kingdom.
It is a non-profit mutual (membership £25 a year) run by members for members, to improve the quality of people’s lives through friendship, care and support. INFORMATION: To find out more about the Oddfellows (oddfellows.co.uk), and to receive a membership pack and local events diary, call 0808 302 6807 or email enquiries@ oddfellows.co.uk