By Lucy Webb

Linda Levett might be among the busiest retired people I have ever met! A Hurstpierpoint resident for eight years, Linda lives with her husband John. She is a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Research UK, helps to run the bar at the St Lawrence Fair, Hurst-Bar-Point, not to mention spending time with her family (including eight grandchildren) and pursuing all her interests and hobbies - bird watching, walking and supporting Portsmouth Football Club! She also helped out as Assistant Editor for Hurst Life in the early months, but most impressive of all, she is currently the High Chief Ranger (National President) of the Foresters Friendly Society.

I managed to pin this busy lady down and get her to explain a bit more about the Society she has been a lifelong member of. On first hearing about The Foresters Friendly Society, I imagined a group of tree loving folk, but Linda and her husband John soon filled me in about this age old, countrywide Branch Society founded in Leeds in 1834.

“We don’t know exactly why the Society was called this, perhaps forestry was a dangerous business to be in and the Society was established to give financial assistance to the workers and their families if they were injured or killed?”

The Ancient Order of Foresters (AOF) became a registered Friendly Society in 1834, although there is evidence that it existed as a society as early as 1790.

Read the rest of the story in the November 2015 issue of Hurst Life...

To find out more about the Foresters Friendly Society click here www.forestersfriendlysociety.co.uk