Bing 78 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Not the army regiment with the nickname 'The Buffs" rather members of the Royal Antediluvium Order of Buffaloes. My father, a Nottingham born and bred man, and you'd know it if you had heard him speak, died a couple of years ago aged 92. I inherited all his paperwork, photos etc which pleased me as for many years I have been trying to trace our family tree. Among his war medals I found two medals of membership of the RAOB. One, is inscribed on the rear "BRO. JIM G. WHITTAKER RAISED 25.8.60 BELVOIR LODGE 3809" At the top of the blue medal-ribbon, itself marked with "RAOB GLE" (Grand Lodge of England) there is a clasp with buffalo horns and the word "Primo", which I think is a rank. I have no idea who Jim G. Whittaker is or where dad picked up the medal, could have been anywhere. If anybody has an idea or if the Belvoir Lodge 3809 still exists please let me know. The other medal was dad's. Same description, but inscribed " BRO. DONALD BINGHAM RAISED 4.12.1949 DUKE OF PORTLAND LODGE 1222 Can anybody help me with this? Where was the lodge? Does it still exist? At the time, 1949, I was one year old and we lived down the right hand side of The Plough Inn on St. Peters Street, Radford. The houses were demolished in 1958. Perhaps the RAOB lodge meetings were held at The Plough, I don't know. Any help would be most gratefully received. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 There was a RAOB up Mapperley Top. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,593 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Hi Bing, Contact any RAOB lodge they will be happy to help,lodges usually held in pub rooms (upstairs) hope this will help you Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 My father was a buff when we lived in Radford late forties and early fifties he attended a lodge at a pub called the Moulders Arms in Radford. I think as Rog says it will be a case of contacting the RAOB as they don't appear to have a dedicated website, a bit difficult for you if it's Derrick, living so far away! Sorry there is a website! maybe you can contact them through that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 RAOB club on Woodborough rd has now closed, they used to have 7 lodges there. There is now an RAOB shop further along towards Porchester rd, maybe they can help. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 The only person I know in the picture is my father top back right. Radford lodge around 1950, Who knows someone may recognise a father or a grandfather. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
piggy and babs 544 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 my late brother was a member of the maperley buffs lodge and i seem to remember that was porchester lodge. my dad was a oniary member of the railway lodge held above jackie bells pub the railway hotel so as was said in earlier post lodges often named after the local pub the meettings were held in as den sez i am sure the shop will help you if it can. my dad was a oniary member as he was never in the forces but as a miner was in a reserved occupationso could not become a full member of the buffs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
annswabey 599 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 What a brilliant photo- thanks for posting. My Great Grandfather was in the RAOB - menioned on his gravestone - but no idea which Lodge and neither Notts Archives or the RAOB have any relevant records. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 My late brother was a Buff, a member of the Mapperley branch for many years, last time I came over (3 years ago) I always visit the place as some of my old mates, and my brothers, still go there on a weekend evening and there is a plaque and picture of my brother as he was quite involved in raising money for cancer research and the city hospital hospice. I noted it was now called the Querneby Club, but the RAOB did still have connections there, not sure now though. When I walk in I still expect my brother to be sitting there in his usual spot and it still hits me that he is no longer with us. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bing 78 Posted July 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 Thanks for everybody's help. I love the photo and I vaguely recollect dad having a sash like theirs, but it didn't survive. Also an ornate certificate? I'll have to contact the RAOB by their website as I live in Thailand. Mind you, we have the real buffaloes here, and the phrase "wait 'til the cows come home" has meaning as you still see the herder driving them home in the evening, usually across busy roads depending where the lush grass is growing. Thanks again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 The picture has special significance for my family because of what happened back in the early fifties. My father was a regular when war broke out and was a Dunkirk veteran then went on to serve in North Africa and Italy where he was wounded and captured, he spent the rest of the war in a German POW camp. We thought he had recovered from those terrible years until the very early fifties when he became ill and could not work.Not only did the Buffalo's pay for him to go to convalesce in Weston Super Mare but they also looked after the family while he was away. Such was the comradeship shared by those wonderful people. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bing 78 Posted August 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 I emailed the Nottingham Records Office and had a reply almost by return of post. They have some records but not the lodges I wanted. I wonder who kept the records when a lodge closed? I have emailed the RAOB themselves, but have had no reply. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 I called in at the shop on Woodborough Rd, the man there could not recall the Belvoir lodge, there is only one lodge now in the whole of Nottingham. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joe mcclaine 0 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 I called in at the shop on Woodborough Rd, the man there could not recall the Belvoir lodge, there is only one lodge now in the whole of Nottingham. There's only one Provincial Grand Lodge in Nottingham, but there's more than one Minor Lodge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidA 153 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Is their club (the Quernaby Club?) still going on Woodborough Road? A few years ago, they used to advertise bands etc they had on via a poster by the door, but that doesn't seem to happen now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colly0410 1,181 Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 My late Dad was a Buff & Mam & he went to the buffs hotel in Weston-Super-Mare. He wanted me to join, but when he told me you had to swear allegiance to the god & the queen I thought "not for me thanks." I could never seem to find out what they actually did as Dad wouldn't tell me unless I joined. It made him happy so I thank them for that.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Weren't the Buffs a working man's Masons ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,090 Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Not so much "working man's", more "other ranks". 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted June 6, 2016 Report Share Posted June 6, 2016 Spotted in Rudd yesterday he must be big chief? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colly0410 1,181 Posted June 6, 2016 Report Share Posted June 6, 2016 Not so much "working man's", more "other ranks". That is one things I hated about the Army: 'the officers & other ranks' thing. I knew someone who turned up at my regt as an officer & it was "ayup, long time no see, hows your Mam/Dad/Sister? etc" & shaking hands. I was taken to one side by the sergeant-major & told I must never talk to him as a friend again. It was to be, yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir. Saw my friend in a German pub & had a good yabber & good laugh. (we we're both off duty & in civvies) Some how they found & I was marched in front of the CO & reprimanded, if it happened again I'd be on a charge. I so hate class distinction.. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
West Bridgford Al 0 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 My Father was a Buff, his lodge was Rushcliffe, which was at the Blue Bell pub I think, anyway, Iam almost sure the Portland lodge was at the Lion Pub on Clumber Street...I think it's an amusement arcade now. Hope this helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ratallgood1 3 Posted November 24, 2016 Report Share Posted November 24, 2016 On ‎12‎/‎11‎/‎2014 at 5:31 PM, joe mcclaine said: I was a member of the Raymond Harold Lodge 8287 on the gle roll it was at Calvverton when I last attended back in 1963 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted November 24, 2016 Report Share Posted November 24, 2016 Aren't buffs wannabe mason's, the working class equivelant ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,130 Posted November 24, 2016 Report Share Posted November 24, 2016 That's right. Working man's Masons. A friend tried to get me into the Masons many years ago but that sort of thing is definitely not my scene! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,593 Posted March 22, 2018 Report Share Posted March 22, 2018 Time to resurrect another old thread, The old fella with the broken leg who I'm looking after at the moment is stuck in the house and can only hobble about with this zimmer frame the hospital loaned him,no fresh air so to speak, reading through the local villages magazine last night I see an advert from the RAOB informing the readers that they have a wheelchair they could lend out for short periods for the infirmed,(small donation would be appreciated) so I am going to contact them this morning with a view to borrowing this chair and taking him out,just a walk to the next village down the cycle/footpath about an hours walk,we all need fresh air and a few sun rays to make us feel good, the bonus is if he starts playing up I can always leave him in the next village and come home without him Not really but I might tell him that  Rog 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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