News Archive Above photo - Clare Thompson (Parry) hands over the Presidency to Biddy Vousden (Davey)at the AGM on Saturday 10th May 2014. If you have any news that you would like posted here then please email to Martin Hugall at mjh@friends.org.uk or oldscholars@friends.org.uk New Website: friends.web-intouch.com (no www!) We are in the process of rolling out our new website. It is still in its infancy and we hope that you will bear with us while we sort out any problems that may arise while we populate pages, and for the moment some pages are still on the old site. The aim is for our new website to be more interactive and it is linked to our Old Scholars’ database. Once logged in you will be able to view additional pages and update your profile and contact details, find friends and leave messages. If you have not already received your login details please register using the box on the top right of the new website home page. Please be patient as Stefanie Godfrey is only in one day a week during term time and she will be the one to email you with your login details. If you are able to give us some feedback about the new site then please email Stefanie at oldscholars@friends.org.uk Much information will still be available to all including news items, details of forthcoming events, archive documents and photos, and electronic versions of publications. We would like to express our thanks to Tom Robinson who designed this original website and got us heading in the right direction before most schools had got websites. It is our intention that our web address www.oldscholars.com will soon link to our new website. Click here to access our new Old Scholars' website Football Match. Old Scholars v. the 1st XI - 6 Sept 2014 Click on the above photo to see a slideshow of photos of this match. Saturday saw the re-introduction of the first XI v the old scholars’ football fixture. 18 old scholars who attended the school from 2001 through to 2013 turned out to play against their younger counter parts. Both teams played flowing football but it’s fair to say the old scholars made the most of their seven subs, some old scholars not having played eleven a side football since they left school. James Hutton opened the scoring for the OS with a wonderful free kick from 25 yards but Felix Hannam followed up a Jake Ogilvie strike to make it one all soon after.  James Taylor slotted home for the OS team finishing off a great passing move from the more experienced play­ers but Alex Van Enis scored the goal of the game from open play with a 30 strike into the top corner to level things up. With the match destined for penalties a defensive error from the now flagging older lads had Jake Ogilvie tap in from 5 yards to seal the victory for the First XI with a final score of 3 - 2. David Vant was comfortable in goal whilst Jimmy Roberts and Zak Charlton were solid at the back. Captain Alex Van Enis and Felix Hannam ran the mid field well, backed up with some good attack­ing play from Andrew Chong. The spine of the old scholars ‘ team were Ben Brown, Danny Bennett, Kev Philemon, Matt Simper, James Taylor and Fergus Walsh to name a few. They had a great time meeting up with others they attended Friends’ school with and are looking forward to the rematch next year. Through the donations of the old Scholars and the school team, over £85 was raised for Jimmys Night Shelter in Cambridge. Nick Batcheler We are sorry to hear the sad news of the death of David Hadley (YG 63) on 21st August 2014. David (known by his classmates as D) was at the school from 1956-63 and was President of the OSA 1992-93. The funeral will be held on Thursday 4th September 2014 at 11 a.m. at Newtown Evangelical Baptist Church, Berkhampstead Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 3AT, followed by private cremation. Family flowers only - Donations to Centrepoint via undertakers 'Church View Funeral Service', 161 Broad Street, Chesham, HP5 3EF. Following the funeral friends are invited to join the family at Chartridge Conference Centre, Chartridge Lane, Chesham, HP5 2TU   Latest Avenue Newsletter from the School Click on the image on the left to download the Summer 2014 edition. We are sorry to hear the sad news that Lynda Sharpe died on 21 July 2014 following an illness. Lynda was the first Head of our present Junior school from 1992 to 1996. Click here to read her account of the foundation of the Junior School taken from 'A History of Friends' Junior School'.   We are sorry to hear of the death of Old Scholar Kaye Whiteman on Saturday 17 May 2014 (YG 53 and at Friends' from 1947 -1952) . 'Kaye was a distinguished journalist who over five decades developed an immense knowledge of Africa and reported on African Affairs for the international media. He was for years editor of West Africa Magazine and the author of several inciseful books on Africa. He was also head of the Information and Public Affairs Division in the Commonwealth Secratariat serving under Chief Emaka Anyaokur from 1989-1990.' (Patsy Robertson, chair of Commonwealth Association). Click here to read his obituary in the Guardian on 6th June 2014. Click here to see details of a tribute to Kaye organised on 18th July 2014 at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. We were sorry to hear that Joy Dupont (née Ashford) died on Saturday 19th April 2014. Joy was Head of the Girls' Side at Friends' from 1965 and then Headmistress from 1968 until 1972. She had spent the last few years in a residential home and had been poorly for some time. Her husband Geoff is in the same home. Her funeral is on Friday 2nd May at 2.30 in Bilderston in Suffolk.   Jean Stubbs. I have just heard the sad news that Jean Stubbs died in her nursing home in Saffron Walden on 11th March 2014 at the age of 95. Those who knew her here as a teacher will not have forgotten her dedication to her pupils, the high standard she set herself in her teaching of French and Latin, and her love for this school. She was a pupil here from 1928 to 1936 and then returned to Friends' as a teacher from 1956 to 1981. Her mother Margaret Stubbs was the housekeeper/matron of our first Junior School when it was in Croydon House from 1930 to 1948. Jean edited a chapter on the Junior School in our Tercentenary book "The School on the Hill" in 2000. She was actively involved with the Old Scholars and corresponded with overseas Old Scholars for many years. Those who went on sixth form workcamps to La Coume, the little school in the French Pyrenees of Quaker origin, will be interested to know that Jean translated the history of La Coume from French into English in 1997. It was Jean who organised the fund raising for the purchase of the school's first minibus. Those who would like to share further memories of Jean can email them to me at mjh@friends.org.uk The funeral will be on Thursday 20th March 10.00 am at Cambridge Crematorium (East Chapel) and the Memorial Meeting for Jean will take place at 12.30 pm on the same day at the Meeting House in Saffron Walden, followed by refreshments. Martin Hugall We have recently heard of the deaths of John Dudderidge YG 1955 and also of Rita Welch staff. Rita Welch, who was a matron at Friends' in Hillcroft sixth form boarding, died on 23rd January 2014. Rita was at Friends' from 1981 to 1997. We received the following information about John: "John Dudderidge, who was a pupil at the school in the late 1940s and 1950s, has died aged 76. A birthright Quaker (his parents were John and Evelyn Dudderidge, originally of Hampstead Meeting and later of St Albans, Burford, and finally Cambridge Oast House), he later became an evangelical Christian in the Church of England. He lived for the last 40 years or so in Luton, working for Smith Kline French, before retiring at the age of about 50 due to ill health. John’s great passion was music – from Bach to modern jazz – and modern languages: he mastered a wide range of European languages, which he used to good effect in his work as a Scientific Information Officer, translating scientific papers and making research available to scientists at Smith Kline. He was also very involved with music at his church, as a performer and composer.... John never married or had children, but he was a much loved uncle, and mentor to the children of several friends. His funeral was at St Hugh’s Church in Luton on 3 February 2014."   Gym Display Whitsun 1938 Click on the image on the left to find out more.   Sarah Evans - Order of the British Empire Congratulations to former Head Sarah Evans on being invited to receive the OBE award for her Services to Education in the 2014 New Year Honours List. Sarah Evans was Head of Friends’ School from 1989 to 1996 and has recently retired after 17 years as Head of King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham. Sarah served on a number of education committees and was Chair of the Independent Schools' Teacher Induction Panel. Old Scholars' Magazine   Click here or on the image on the left to download the latest copy of the Old Scholars' Magazine - November 2013. Material for the magazine can be posted to the 'The Old Scholars' Magazine', Friends' School, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3EB or emailed to oldscholars@friends.org.uk Message Board We have been waiting to get a new message Board which should be available when our new website is rolled out. However, all this is taking longer than expected and so the old Message Board is again available for viewing but there is a different and temporary method of posting items. Please see the Message Board page of tthe website. AGM Click here to visit the AGM page of the website. The next AGM will take place at 3.30pm on Saturday 10th May 2014 - the same day as our Reunion and Friends and Families Day. Click here to see the minutes of the AGM held on 11th May 2013. Next May Reunion and AGM - Saturday 10th May 2014 We share our May Reunion with the School's 'Friends and Families Day'. We do hope that as many Old Scholars as possible will be able to attend this event. As has become the pattern of late, we will be trying to get as many Old Scholars back as possible, especially for the evening dinner where we are hoping to attract those who are turning 50 and 60, ie Year Groups 1982 and 1972. Click here to visit our May Reunion page. Last Friends and Families Day - 11th May 2013 Click here to find out more about the school by accessing the Friends and Families Day page on the school website, which has transcripts of the speeches made and a downloadable booklet about what has been happening in school over the past year.   We are very sorry to hear that Lord Newton of Braintree died at the age of 74 on Sunday 25th March 2012 after a long illness. Tony Newton was an Old Scholar and was a pupil at Friends' School from 1948 to 1955. He was President of the Old Scholars' Association from 2001 to 2002 and presided over our Tercentenary celebrations in the summer of 2002. Tony Newton served as a minister in the governments of Lady Thatcher and John Major, holding posts ranging from social security secretary to leader of the House of Commons. He was an MP for Braintree in Essex for 23 years until 1997. After accepting a peerage, he remained active in the Lords and rebelled over aspects of the government's welfare reform proposals earlier this year. Lord Newton's family said he had died on Sunday following a long illness."In spite of his worsening health, he was determined to carry on contributing to public life right up until the last few days," they said in a statement. "He was a remarkable man." Lord Newton became a health minister in 1982 and quickly rose up the ministerial ranks under Margaret Thatcher, being promoted to the cabinet with responsibility for welfare in 1989. After the 1992 election, he became leader of the House of Commons. He first contested a parliamentary seat in 1970 and was elected for the constituency of Braintree four years later. He represented the Essex town until stepping down in 1997. See also www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17510001 where much of the above material was sourced. Click here for a comprehensive obituary in the Telegraph. Click here to read Tony Newton Old Scholars' Presidential Address at our Tercentenary celebrations in May 2002. ( From the May 2003 edition of FS Old Scholars' magazine)   When we were four - History of 'The Nomads' - Friends’ School's first rock band, 1962 to 1964. Click here to read Paul Fry's account of 'The Nomads' written in 1968. "it does record for posterity, an image of the school from a particular view that coincided with an important time in the development of popular music and teenage culture in Britain."   BBC Film of the School in 1977. This 10 minute film shows how the sixth form students at Friends' used to run the school for one day each year in the absence of teachers, on 'School Day', using their own alternative timetable. Click here to see this film on YouTube.   Video of the School in 1989. This 10 minute video about Friends' School was filmed by Friends' School students in 1989 and produced and directed by John Dickinson. This version, and the only one I can find, is without the added soundtrack. Click here to see this film on YouTube. Farrand Radley We are very sorry to hear that , H. Arthur Farrand Radley M.B.E. (YG 1933), died peacefully, after a short illness, on Saturday 16th October 2010, aged 94. His funeral service has been arranged for Thursday 4 November at 1 p.m. at West London Crematorium and it will be a service in the manner of the Quakers. No flowers please. Donations to the Religious Society of Friends. Enquiries to HAVEN Funeral Services, tel. 020 8993 8040. Farrand was a pupil here from 1927 to 1933 and was in the first Sixth Form at Friends’ to take Higher School Certificate. Farrand’s family have had a long association with the school over many generations and his mother also taught music at Friends’ ( The main music room is dedicated to Helen Radley). Farrand served on the Old Scholars’ Committee for many years and was President from 1966 to 67. With a camera never far from him, Farrand contributed many photographs of OS reunions to the Old Scholars’ Magazine over the years. Those who have had the privilege to work alongside Farrand on the OS Committee will know that he was a mine of historical information about the school. Farrand wrote the first chapter in our tricentenary book “The School on the Hill”, entitled “A Four-Site Saga” outlining the history of the School at its four sites – Clerkenwell, Islington, Croydon and Saffron Walden. This book can be downloaded from our website at http://www.friends.org.uk/school/history/book/index.htm Farrand was an amazing and most likeable character and absolutely passionate about the School. He has contributed much to the School and the Old Scholars’ Association. Farrand will be sadly missed by his wife Laura, family, many friends, the School and the Old Scholars’ Association. Alan Thompson We are very sorry to hear that, Alan Thompson (YG 1937), husband of Eileen, (Staff at various times in the 1960's - deceased 2004) and father of Jendy (1958-1965) and Geoff (1959-1966)) died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday 9th October 2010 - his 90th birthday.  The funeral/thanksgiving service will be at St Andrew's Church, Chorleywood at 3.45pm on Monday 18th October (preceeded by a short commital service at 2.45pm at Amersham Crematorium). Geoff can be contacted on 07771 928 701, 01923 284745 and geofft101@btinternet.com for more information. Alan was a pupil here from 1930 to 1937, Treasurer and Trustee of  the FSSWOSA for many years, President of the Old Scholars' Association 1968-1969, and also Honorary Life Vice President. Alan's dedication to Friends' School will be much missed. Click here to see the press release for this book. March 09   Charlotte Moerman (nee Caley) from Year Group 1991 has just published a book entitled 'Instructions not included'. The book is based on her day-to-day experiences as a mum of 3 boys under the age of 5 with a husband who frequently travels abroad. The book came about from Charlotte's weekly blogs as the 'Buggy Blogger' on the Raising Kids website. She was featured in the Telegraph Family scetion last year in a feature about mums who blog and the online mums community.Charlotte says 'I should add that there is mention of my time at the school within its pages (although I do not mention FSSW by name). Happy times and happy memories'. IMOGEN HEAP pays a nostalgic visit to her old school. Imogen Heap (Year Group 1995) left Friends' School in 1993, and has since embarked upon a most successful musical career. She paid a nostalgic vist to her old school in August and enjoyed seeing around her old haunts and playing on her favourite piano in the Music School. Imogen's vist was also filmed for a documentary which may contribute to a DVD when her next album is released before Christmas. Imogen plans to publish excerpts from her visit on her blog on You Tube soon. To find out more about Imogen Heap visit her website at www.imogenheap.co.uk   1963 Film of the School Click on the image on the left to see the 1963 Film of the School made by Old Scholar Matthew Robinson in 1963. It is in 3 parts on 'YouTube'.   36 whole school photos from 1922 to 2010 have now been scanned and are available for viewing. Click on either of the photos below to access this page.