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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Bedfordshire => Topic started by: steviebee on Sunday 07 November 21 17:31 GMT (UK)
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I recently came across a photo of a 2x removed 1st cousin of mine in the Beds and Herts Pictorial. The article is dated 27 August 1929 and shows my cousin Eric Day and his newly wedded wife May Winifred McGeorge presumably outside a church just after they were wed. The wording reads "Mr Eric Day, brother of Haydn Day, was honoured with an arch of crooks on the occasion of his wedding at Luton to Miss M. W. McGeorge, who is a vocalist". Unfortunately, I have no idea which church they were married in, or what the reference to "Druids" is all about. Can anyone enlighten me please?
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Where is the reference to "druids"?. Perhaps he was as shepherd!
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Were the Druids (Luton) a Bowls team? Referece to them in this newspaper
Kay
Sorry Biggleswade Chronicle 16 July 1954
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There were, by the 1920s, at least 2 orders of Druids existed in England.
The Ancient Order of Druids and the United Ancient Order of Druids.
Both were essentially Fraternal Societies.
Similar to the Odd Fellows, Shepherds Friendly Society and Foresters Friendly Society.
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So sorry :-\. Seems I missed out a crucial sentence in my request for information! The wording on the newspaper cutting actually reads
"Mr Eric Day, brother of Haydn Day, was honoured with an arch of crooks from fellow Druids on the occasion of his wedding at Luton to Miss M. W. McGeorge, who is a vocalist".
Any information as to what this may be referring to would be very useful. Who were these "Druids"?
Many thanks.
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Thanks for your replies so far. Very enlightening. From the "arch of crooks" and your mention of the Ancient Order of Druids, it seems likely that they were members of the Shepherds Friendly Society, but any further info would be great.
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Check the Beds & Herts Pictorial, 1 Nov 1927. It has a picture of Luton Lodge of Druids. In the background you can see the tops of 2 crooks.
There's an item in the same paper 15 Mar 1927
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Same paper 12 May 1931 under the headline "Luton Druids Entertain" reports -
" ... "Vine "Lodge No 654 of the Ancient Order of Druids ... the only one in Bedfordshire ..."
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Have a look at:
https://ancient-order-of-druids.tumblr.com/
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Thanks for the references which I have now looked up. All very interesting! In the May 1931 article, one of the toastmasters was A. McGeorge, which also happens to be the surname of Eric Day's bride - May McGeorge - so it is quite likely her brother, Arthur McGeorge.
Another question I have, in the same newspaper on 6 October 1931 there is an advert for a gramophone recital "to be held by Mr Eric Day assisted by Miss May McGeorge (soprano)", but this was 2 years after they were married. It seems strange to refer to one's wife with her maiden name and the title Miss, or was this part of being a member of the "brotherhood"?
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Thanks KGarrad for the article. Very interesting. I noticed the crossed crooks on the medal of the Past Noble Arch Druid. I didn't realise so many famous people were members, and now that includes my cousins!