Winslow History | Oddfellows' centenary, 1910

Oddfellows' centenary, 1910

Buckingham Advertiser, 18 June

Cyclists at the Market Square

Winslow was quite en fete on Thursday when the Loyal Western Lodge celebrated the Centenary of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, and advantage was taken of the fact to hold a general holiday. First of all the members met at the Oddfellows’ Hall and partook of luncheon, and then, accompanied by the 1st Bucks Territorial Band, they marched to church, where a public thanksgiving service was held, conducted by the Vicar, Rev. T. Hinkley…
The service over, the band played the members back to the Hall, where a public dinner was held, to which about 200 sat down. The chair was occupied by Hon. Bro. S. P. Wigley, who was supported by Col. The Hon. T. F. Fremantle. Rev. F. C. Davies, Rev. T. Hinkley, Rev. St. J. Beamish, Dr. Kennish, Mr. W. Monk, C.C., Mr. H. H. Wigley, Mr. Jno. Holdom, Mr. J. C. Hawley, Bro. E. A. Illing, Prov. G.M., etc., whilst in the body of the Hall were Messrs. E. J. French, W. Wise, W. Matthews, R. J. Matthews, W. Whitehorn, W. N. Midgley, W. H. Stevens, G. Gazey, J. White, W. Walker, G. H. Thompson, J. Smith, G. Ingram, jun., J. Hillyer, S. Berry, Geo. Hall, S. W. Midgley, F. Lomas, W. Viccars, R. Benbow, etc.,etc…
Bro. F. Lomas (Secretary) thanked the members for their enthusiastic reception of the toast and for the kind reference to himself. It was 28 years since he joined the Lodge, and he had done his best to carry out the injunction “Bear ye one another’s burdens and therefore fulfil the law of Christ.” He knew some of the reasons why the Lodge has been so successful was the keen interest in it which had been taken by its friends who were always ready to help it: also others who did a fine work for the Lodge, although their names were not much heard of, viz., the Trustees, Hon. Bro. E. J. French, District Visitor Bro. W. Wise, and Prov. Grand Master Bro. E. A. Illing, and if they were as careful with their own money as they were with the Lodge’s they ought to become rich men. Then there were members who had been in for years without drawing a penny out, and were keen workers too. It was through all these that the lodge came to have such a handsome surplus, and he believed that in a few days when the result of the five years was known it would have increased to £1,000.
Prov. Grand Master Illing then asked Bro. Lomas to propose the next toast.- Bro. Lomas said the reason he was asked to propose this was because he knew better than anyone else what the Lodge owed to the name of Wigley, but he could not tell them all they owed to Mr. Wigley’s father, who gave them every assistance free when they started, was an honorary member as long as he lived, was always ready to put his hand in his pocket if they wanted help, and when they went to his beautiful grounds if anything could be done to make their fetes a success he grudged no expense to do it. They all revered his name, and were rejoiced to see his son following in his father’s footsteps and doing everything possible for the benefit of the Lodge.
Mr. Wigley’s health was then drunk with musical honours. – Mr. Wigley, in response, thanks the members for the pleasure and honour they had done him, and said that if now or in the future he or any member of the family could do anything for the Lodge they would be most pleased to do so.
The meeting then terminated, and at 3 o’clock the grounds of Sunny Lawn were kindly thrown open by Mrs. Wigley for all kinds of sports and games- Hutchings’ (Banbury) Troupe of Minstrels, athletic sports for the Juvenile branch, dancing, etc; concluding with illumination of the grounds with Chinese lanterns, etc., Mr. Benbow provided tea, and Mr. Geo. Robinson other refreshments.
The following are the results of the races, open to Juvenile Members only:-
Flat Race.-1, B. Kerrison; 2, R. Gibbard; 3, B. Brazell.
Egg and Spoon.-1, T. Saving; 2, F. Gibbard; 3, F. Boughton.
Sack.-1, G. Knight; 2, N. Mitchell; 3, W. Taylor.
Egg and Spoon.- 1, J. Bonham; 2, F. Kimble; 3, W. Viccars.
Egg and Spoon.-1, R. Norton; 2, J. Dancer; 3, A. Wilson.
Sack.-1, A. Beckett; 2, A. Hamp; 3, P.Airey.
Tug of War.- F. Lines’ team won.
Marathon Race (open to Juvenile Members over 14 years). Distance, Buckingham Road opposite Redfield White Gate to the Sports’ Ground.-1, E. Lines; 2, H. Lee; 3, A. Mullis. [see photo above]
Miss Wigley kindly distributed the prizes at the close, and a very hearty vote of thanks to her and Mrs. Wigley was proposed by Mr. Pass, and carried with great applause.