Gordon and Kath’s kindness acknowledged with award

Updated: 21 May 2025

Gordon and Kath Hinett, members of North Wales and Chester Oddfellows, have been picked as this year’s winners in the Making a Difference Awards’ Achieving Together category. Well done!

The married couple from Llysfaen, North Wales, have been recognised for their teamwork and the selfless effort they put in to make their Branch the best it can be and improving its members’ lives.

Gordon received the award on the pair’s behalf at a special ceremony at the Society’s national Annual Moveable Conference in Scarborough on Tuesday 20 May.

Kath and Gordon with their Making a Difference Award certificate

Committed to their members

Gordon has held many formal roles, including volunteering his time as a member of the Branch’s Committee of Management and as a Trustee. He’s also been the Branch’s Chairman in the past.

In his work as a Welfare Visitor he regularly assists members however they might need, be that driving them to and from appointments or events, or going to the shops when they are unable to get there themselves.

“I mainly deal with the members that are ill or who are unable to do certain things for themselves,” Gordon explained. “I had one lady who never went shopping after Covid started and I did her shopping for her.

“If they need to go to hospital I get them to the hospital. If they’ve got an appointment I get them there for that appointment. I take a few out shopping even now. I’ll pick them up for our coffee morning if they need picking up.

“Kathryn says I go over the top. I care a lot about our members. Those that aren’t able to do things for themselves, I care a great deal for them.”

“It’s not unheard of for Gordon to be at A&E until two or three in the morning with a member,” Kath said.

Gordon alongside two members at a recent coffee morning in Llandudno

Kath takes the lead on organising social events, whether it be a trip to the cinema, the theatre or a day out somewhere.

She said: “I tend to be on the telephone and do the paperwork that’s needed, and if there’s a bit of organisation needed like minibuses I’ll sort that out.

“If anyone’s got a technical issue with their phone they always head to me. And I always say, ‘I am always at the end of a phone if you need me or want me’.”

She added: “It sounds wrong but I get a great buzz out of helping people. It makes you feel good.”

Gordon concurred, saying: “I enjoy doing what I’m doing – making a difference, if you want to put it that way.

“A lot of people here depend on me and Kathryn and we get a lot of pleasure out of what we do.”

Meaningful friendships

Kath serving drinks at a recent coffee morning in Llandudno

As well as the warm fuzzy feeling they get from helping people, the duo have also developed brilliant friendships throughout their 15 years of membership.

“It’s the friendships and the camaraderie when we get together that I love,” said Kath.

Gordon agreed: “The friendships are unbelievable. The friends we’ve made here are life-long friends.

“I didn’t expect, when I joined the Oddfellows, to be doing what I’m doing now. I went along to the one in Saltney with a friend of mine and found out what it was all about and I’ve loved every minute of it.

“I don’t say anything to my members I don’t mean. If I say I’m going to do something then I’m there and I do it. That’s the way it should be.

“I think some people lose focus. They don’t always know what friendship really means. It’s okay if you’ve got loads of friends but friendship is different. They know they’re not alone. If they need us they can pick up the phone and ring us.

Kath added: “To me friendship is about helping people and being there for people. If you can’t do something nice, don’t do it.

“It’s got to be a two-way street, friendship. By that I don’t mean you give and take, I mean they get as much out of you helping them as you get out helping them.

“The grandchildren will tell you that Nanny and Grandad say what they mean and mean what they say.”

You could’ve knocked us down with a feather Kath Hinett

Gordon represented himself and Kath at the Society's annual conference in Scarborough in May where he received their trophy

On winning the award, Kath said: “You could’ve knocked us down with a feather.”

“It certainly came as a surprise,” added Gordon. “We didn’t even know our names had been put forward.”

“We were astonished to be perfectly honest because it’s not something we thought of. It was shock, a pleasurable shock don’t get me wrong, but we don’t do it to get rewarded. We do it because we love doing it.”

North Wales and Chester Oddfellows’ Branch Secretary, Denise Turner, said: “Gordon and Kath both work tirelessly for our members without recognition, and are always on hand to support and offer friendship and a listening ear.

“Due to the size of our District, Gordon and Kath have become crucial members of our Welfare and Social teams, making the Llandudno welfare support and social offering such a success.

“They work together as a formidable team and host coffee mornings 52 weeks of the year. They have even extended their hospitality and opened up their home to members to share a meal on Christmas Day who would otherwise have been on their own.

“Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition. We don’t know where we’d be without you.”

Gordon received the trophy from Grand Master (Chairman) Barbara Needham

Who makes a difference in your Branch?

If you know somebody in your Branch who has gone above and beyond to help and support members of the Oddfellows, why not nominate them for a 2026 Making a Difference Award?

Any member can nominate another member. You can learn more about the different categories in the Making a Difference Awards section of our website.

If you're interested in joining an Oddfellows friendship group, contact us and we can send you a free information pack and local events diary.