Latest News
FWCC welcomes new member
The Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) welcomed the New Association of Friends at the Section of the Americas annual meeting in Mexico City in March.
Friends’ carbon footprint efforts pay off
Camden Climate Change Alliance has recognised Friends House as a Carbon Champion. The Carbon Champion mark is awarded to organisations in Camden, or working in Camden, that are taking the lead and demonstrating to others how to succeed at carbon management and reduction. Organisations are required to produce a carbon...
Friends fly kites
Sixteen members of Bournemouth Coastal Area Meeting took to Swanage beach for kite flying on 21 March, as part of the Fly Kites Not Drones campaign. Friends decided to take part when they realised that the Area Meeting coincided with the worldwide call to draw attention to the use of armed...
Red plaque day for QSA
Quaker Social Action (QSA)’s Made of Money project has received a ‘Red Plaque’ from Comic Relief. The plaque recognised QSA’s work in financial education. Made of Money encourages people to talk through their experiences with money. Activities include workshops that help parents to tackle consumerism, spending habits and...
‘The Light’ shortlisted for architectural award
The refurbished Large Meeting House in Friends House, which was rebranded for public bookings as ‘The Light’, has been shortlisted for a RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) London 2015 award. John McAslan + Partners were the project architects for the £5 million renovation. Their work involved retaining key heritage features and adding...
Quaker composer new Leaveners’ patron
Sally Beamish has joined Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Sheila Hancock and John Whitney as a patron of the Leaveners, the Quaker arts organisation. Sally is a composer and viola player. Among her works is Equal Voices, a joint commission with poet Andrew Motion, created to mark the centenary of the...
Peace and justice campaigner charged
Keighley Friend Sylvia Boyes was imprisoned on 18 March for refusing to pay fines. The fines related to a protest against the DSEI (Defence and Security Equipment) arms fair in 2013 when Sylvia was charged with obstructing the highway. She will spend fourteen days in New Hall Prison in Wakefield.
Lecture series remembers Friend
A Yorkshire field society has named a new lecture series after a member of the Religious Society of Friends who died in 2013 at the age of ninety-three. Upper Wharfedale Field Society will commemorate Friend Richard Harland with biennial lectures on vernacular architecture. The first lecture was delivered on 22 March by...
Friends plan for Eurosatory 2016
Quakers in France and Belgium have appealed to British Friends to join their vigil at Europe’s biggest arms fair next summer. Eurosatory will take place in Paris from 13 to 17 June 2016. More than a thousand exhibitors are expected to take part.
Friends in Scotland
Friends gathered for General Meeting for Scotland in St Andrews on 7 March in a rather sombre mood following the recent deaths of a number of well-known and well-loved Friends who had given much service to our Religious Society. Indeed, the funeral of Christine Davis, clerk of London Yearly Meeting in...