Druids in Luton?

[steviebee]

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?

[Brentor boy]

Where is the reference to "druids"?. Perhaps he was as shepherd!

[Kay99]

Were the Druids (Luton) a Bowls team?  Referece to them in this newspaper

Kay

Sorry Biggleswade Chronicle 16 July 1954

[KGarrad]

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.

[steviebee]

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.

[steviebee]

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.

[hanes teulu]

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

[hanes teulu]

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 ..."

[KGarrad]

Have a look at:
https://ancient-order-of-druids.tumblr.com/