Lincolnshire residents Barry Bedford, Chris Sargeant and Jean Logan have recently received national recognition for their commitment and contributions to the running of their local not-for-profit friendship group.
The trio, all members of the Market Deeping-based Nene and Welland Oddfellows, have been selected as winners of ‘Making a Difference Awards’. Their trophies were handed out at a special ceremony at the Society’s annual national conference in Scarborough on Tuesday 20 May.
Barry, from Baston, has been a member of the Branch for almost 60 years. He won in the ‘Giving a Helping Hand’ category for his willingness and enthusiasm for being there for others.
As a Welfare Officer, Barry has been known to give members lifts to and from events and the shops, he frequently checks in on people both over the phone and in person, and has assisted in all manner of DIY projects, including helping to clear driveways, repairing doors, gardening jobs and decorating rooms.
Barry said: “I do get a buzz out of helping people. If I come home and I say to my wife, ‘I’ve done so-and-so with them and I’ve painted a room and they’re happy with it’, I think I’ve done something useful.
“It’s the way I live my life and always have done and if that transforms into helping other people then I’m thankful.
“It’s wonderful winning a national award. I’m not only recognised around here but within the whole Society. I’m very proud of it.”
Chris, from Pinchbeck in Spalding, took home the ‘Working in the Spirit of Mutuality’ trophy, which recognises her commitment to Nene and Welland Oddfellows and the wider Society.
Throughout her near-50 years of membership, Chris has held almost every formal volunteer position at her Branch and represented Nene and Welland Oddfellows on regional and national committees.
She said: “The Oddfellows gives to me as much as I give to it. I’m 75 now. I’ve been retired 12 years, but I don’t know how I’d cope if I hadn’t got Oddfellowship to keep me going and all my friends in the Society.
“You get to know people. I’ve friends all over the country through Oddfellowship. I love it, absolutely love it.”
On winning the award, she added: “I was shocked because I didn’t know. It’s amazing. How proud was I that someone had thought I was worthy of it?”
Jean was chosen as the winner in the ‘Enriching Lives Socially’ category, celebrating her role in providing a varied and exciting social offering for Nene and Welland Oddfellows members.
Through her role on the Branch’s Social Committee, the Bourne resident is key to coming up with new ideas for, organising, and hosting events and – importantly – making sure everyone has a good time.
She said: “I’m an organiser. I always organise things. I’m always in the catering. I’m always in the kitchen.
“They always say to me, ‘we wish we had your energy’, and I say, ‘well I’m not giving it to anybody, sorry it’s mine!’”
Jean said it was a nice surprise to discover she had won the award, adding: “It was the fact that I was the overall winner. You’ve got so many Oddfellows branches all over the country and I end up as the overall winner.”
Nene and Welland Oddfellows is made up of 400 mostly older and retired local members and anyone is welcome to join. It is one of 96 branches that make up the Oddfellows’ nationwide network, which is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the UK.
Branch Secretary at Nene and Welland Oddfellows, Karen Earth, said: “We were delighted to learn that not one, but three of our members had been chosen as winners of the Making a Difference Awards. They are a wonderful representation of the kind, caring and brilliant people we have here.
“A huge congratulations to Barry, Chris and Jean. We don’t know where we’d be without you.”
The Society aims to improve its members’ lives through friendship and support. It hosts a range of affordable and accessible events locally, and Oddfellows members can access a variety of benefits including care and welfare support and a travel club. There are also opportunities to volunteer and take part in fundraising initiatives.
Image shows: Nene and Welland Oddfellows’ Making a Difference Awards winners Chris Sargeant, Barry Bedford and Jean Logan
