News If you would like information about reunions posted here or if you have any other news, then please email this information to Martin Hugall at mjh@friends.org.uk   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) Old Scholars' Magazine 2012. Click on the image on the right to access our OS Magazine page where you can see online copies for the last 6 years including the 2012 edition. The Editor for the Old Scholars' Magazine is Richard Gilpin (richard67gilpin@hotmail.co.uk) Send news and photographs of you and your friends, news of you and your family (hatch, match and despatch), memories of your time at the School, and tell your friends what you are doing now, by post to the Foundation Office, Friends’ School, Saffron Walden, CB11 3EB or by email to richard67gilpin@hotmail.co.uk. Contributions by the end of December please. Membership Update Click here to see the October 2011 joint letter from last year's President and the Head. Next May Reunion - Saturday 19th May 2012 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, 55 and 60, ie Year Groups 1980, 1975 and 1970. Click here to visit our May Reunion page. Next AGM - Saturday 17th November 2012 Coffee from 9.45 AGM at 10am Click here for more information.   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." Last Year's Friends and Families Day May 2011 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.   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'.   35 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. The School now looks after membership details and production of the magazine. Debbie Peck is the Membership Secretary and Debbie can be contacted at the school at oldscholars@friends.org.uk