From summer school to shindig
50 years of Northern Young Friends
Some time around 1961 or 1962 a residential gathering for Quaker teenagers in Scotland and the north of England was held for the first time. Over the following half-century it changed its name and moved house several times. But two things have not changed: the commitment and loyalty of the staff team, and the spiritual growth and opportunities for friendship experienced by the young participants, many of whom come from scattered rural Meetings where they may never come across another Quaker teenager.
Across Britain and further afield there must be hundreds of Friends and others who, even if no longer active in the Society, will remember this event (maybe as Northern Friends Summer School or Gathering) with fondness, and still carry with them the spiritual values and friendships they developed there.
The current staff team is made up almost entirely of people who themselves were participants five, ten or fifteen years ago – or more. They experienced laughter, tears and a Quaker community that allowed them to question and develop their own beliefs, where they were accepted and valued for themselves and treated as equals by the adults. They received, and now they give back – in spades. Running this event requires time, commitment and hard work – but many of us believe that it is one of the most important things we do for the future of the Society. We think it is worth celebrating, and so we would like to hold a fiftieth anniversary reunion – probably in Edinburgh in May 2011. Were you one of those young participants, or staff? Will you come? Do you have stories, memories, photographs that you would like to share?
Please get in touch.
Contact us on summerschoolreunion@gmail.com or write to us at Flat 1/2, 5 Torrisdale Street, Glasgow G42 8PZ and we will keep you informed about the reunion plans. We look forward to hearing from you!
Bronwen and Roz Currie
for Northern Friends Youth Events Trust
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