Meet our new Grand Master, Barbara Needham

Updated: 28 Jan 2025

Vale of York Oddfellows’ Barbara Needham was officially welcomed as the Society’s new Grand Master (Chairman) during the Society’s annual conference in May, a position she’ll hold for two years. We sat down with her to discuss the life that has brought her to where she is now.

Barbara Needham

Early life

From humble beginnings, Barbara moved from Leicester to the small town of Brough, close to Hull, at the age of three after her Draughtsman father took a job there.

The oldest of five, Barbara describes her family as a close one. They would frequently travel around Yorkshire and go camping – the love for which she never lost and continued into her adult life.

Through these trips she developed a large group of “camping friends”, who she would see on the weekends.

One member of that group would turn out to be her husband – former Grand Master Peter Needham.

“I used to go out with his best friend for two years but we drifted apart because I went to college. So, I turned to Peter and it developed from there,” Barbara said.

Barbara, Peter and Claire

Barbara and Peter married in 1973, at which time she became a member of the Oddfellows at the then Good Samaritan Lodge in Goole where her father-in-law was Secretary at the time – a job that she would take on herself in 1996.

(Left to right) Barbara, her mum, Brenda Gill, and Peter

She said: “I left college at the end of June and we got married at the end of July. I lived in Brough and he lived in Goole, so I was spending money going to Goole and we said, ‘well this is stupid, why don’t we just get married?’ So we did.

“It was all arranged within four weeks. Nothing like the expensive events that happen today!

“I borrowed my sister-in-law’s wedding dress. Peter got a new suit. We catered ourselves in the local village hall. I think the wedding cost us £14, which is all you had to pay for the licence, and then we went away camping for our honeymoon.”

Upon their return, the newlyweds moved in with Peter’s grandad in a “two up, two down terraced house in Goole – no electricity upstairs, no hot water, and an outside toilet”.

In 1979, no longer living with Peter’s grandad, Barbara and Peter welcomed their daughter, Claire, into the world. She has gone on to have a successful accountancy career.

“She’s done very well for herself. I’m very proud of her… and of course, she takes after her mother!”

Born to teach

Barbara forged a successful career in primary education, mostly teaching infants in Stainforth and Goole, before the family moved to Scunthorpe and she settled in for a 30-year stint at a school in Broughton where she ultimately became Head Teacher.

“It was something that I’d always wanted to do ever since I went to school. I never wanted to do anything else,” she said.

“I lived in that community so I got to know the whole community. Seeing generations come through. When it got grandparents I thought, ‘this is the time to retire now!’”

Barbara (right) with daughter Claire and dog Innes

Her Oddfellows journey

Barbara has held Secretary roles at four different branches and is currently Assistant Secretary at Vale of York Oddfellows, which covers major towns and cities such as Goole, York, and Scarborough. She served as Provincial Grand Master in the former York and Scarborough District in 1983 and 1984, and again in the Vale of York in 2015. She’s also sat on the District Committee of Management for 39 years.

However, she says that never in her wildest dreams did she anticipate becoming Grand Master.

“It’s a great honour because you’re just a custodian,” she said. “Although you wear the chain and you’re the figurehead, that’s not what makes you an Oddfellow. What makes you an Oddfellow is what’s in your heart.

“It’s a great honour that people think I can do it. I just want to do my best, because the ethos of Oddfellows is what we should all live by. The whole world would be a better place if people looked after each other.”

Celebrating together. (Left to right) Claire, Peter, Barbara and Barbara's sister, Vivienne Osbourne 

A vision of greater collaboration

Barbara wants her tenure to be remembered for her enthusiasm. “I just love it and I want other people to love it,” she said.

“It’s like anything – the more you put in, the more you get out.

“It’s about involving other people. It’s a case of trying to enthuse people and just get them to enjoy it. I’ve made some wonderful friends in Oddfellows.”

She added: “I’m just an ordinary person. If you want to be Grand Master of this wonderful society, you can. The opportunity is there.”

Could you help shape our Society’s future?

As with Barbara, we rely on the talents and commitment of many of our members, locally and nationally, to help manage our day-to-day affairs, represent us, as well as shape our future direction.

We’re always on the lookout for members who are ready for a challenge, have a progressive outlook and are able to volunteer time freely on a regular basis.

There are a wide range of development, advisory and Officer roles at a local Branch level which could also progress to representation at a national level.

Find out more about our Officer roles on our Society involvement page, or speak with your Branch Secretary.