Old Framlinghamians

The Society of Old Framlinghamians (the “OFs” for short) was founded in 1900 and its objectives remain the same today as then:

To promote the interests of Framlingham College
To enable former students and staff to keep in touch
To create a bond between past and present Framlinghamians

To meet these goals, the Society organises activities such as suppers, sports events – including matches between existing College teams and OFs – and family reunions. Many of the younger OFs also arrange many informal get-togethers.

To find out more about the Society and its activities, take a look at its dedicated website.

On an Eminence

The centenary of the founding of Framlingham was celebrated by the opening of the Athlone Hall by Queen Victoria and Albert’s granddaughter, Princess Alice, the 125^th saw the opening of Borrett’s, and the 150^th sees the ‘reinvigoration of the heart of the College’, with major building work to enhance facilities behind the old mock-Gothic façade. For some reason, histories of Framlingham have come out at sixty-year intervals, with John Booth’s definitive record of the first sixty years, and Bob Gillett’s characteristically dry take on the second sixty. Brandeston Hall has more recently been covered by Norman Porter and John Maulden has written on the College’s late twentieth-century links with the Society of Old Framlinghamians. However, somewhere between the 120^th and the 180^th anniversaries it seems fitting to publish a book of a slightly different kind, more on the lines of Sellar & Yeatman’s 1066 and All That, a history of what the authors and more recent generations of Framlinghamians can remember about their time at the College.

Many OFs have made remarkable written, photographic and artistic contributions to this book, along with a wealth of fascinating artefacts. As well as the usual suspects, Messrs Porter, Pitcher and Martin, Professor Marsh and Drs McGuire and Bull were particularly quick to respond to our request for suitable material, while others were equally prompt to let us know that their memories of their time at the College were too ‘scarce and uninteresting’ to mention. True to form some Framlinghamians promised much, but delivered nothing, while others were horribly late with their essays – we might sigh like the Protestant martyr, John Bland, who wrote of a former pupil officiating at his trial for heresy in the 1550s: ‘though I was never able to do him good, yet once I was his tutor’.

The authors have also struggled with the chaotic state of the College archives – like the Foulstons searching on Southwold beach, turning up small pieces of amber amongst a mass of pebbles, and the OF diaspora means that materials are still coming in from all over the world. We hope this book at least stems the tide of loss and provides a fitting record of the College’s recent past: perhaps the 150^th anniversary will spark a new interest in collating and organising the archives.

Inevitably many people will find themselves omitted from this record and the authors have faced a difficult task of selection and interpretation. When Robinson and Gallagher wrote their seminal history of the British Empire in 1953 they tried to move away from a Eurocentric perspective: Robinson and Cooke have been more narrowly Framlocentric, but we are only too well aware, as Sir Walter Raleigh wrote in the Tower shortly before his execution, that ‘whosoever in writing a modern History, shall follow truth too near the heels, it may haply strike out his teeth’. Even so, we hope most readers will enjoy this history. We have tried to capture the essence of the place, we’ve tried not to be boring and we trust that the combination of Robinsonian hyperbole and Cookeian litotes has produced a golden mean.

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The OFs as benefactors

The Society has a tradition of providing financial support to the school and its pupils.

For example, it was largely responsible for funding the purchase of the Prep School at Brandeston Hall and funds a considerable number of scholarships too. The most valuable of these are the Moreau Leaving Scholarships, worth £2400 over a three-year period.

Everyone who attends Framlingham College automatically becomes a member of the Society. Amongst other benefits, this allows former students to build a global network of contacts that can prove helpful for careers, socialising, travelling and more.

The OFs have an active presence on the online networking site LinkedIn, with around 4000 Framlinghamians currently members.

Click here to update your details.

"I have been asked the question as to why I supported the College in their 150th Anniversary Appeal and I find I’ve never really posed that question to myself. But why did I? Well I suppose fifteen years of close working relationship under my belt I know beyond doubt that this is a fine, sound, and worthwhile cause – the teaching staff, the leadership in Paul Taylor, the wonderful buildings, the passion of the governing body, yes all those – they are undoubtedly there and in their way they are as good as you will find in any elite school in the country. But actually there is more – there is something extra for me. My long stint of service enables me to know both parents and former pupils over an extended period of time and it is just those former pupils that make me passionate about Framlingham. They are genuinely a fine upstanding bunch of young people, prepared for life and its challenges, honest, enthusiastic and making a real contribution. That we at Framlingham have done something very special for all those young people to help turn them into the outstanding individuals they are at 25, 30 and no doubt for life is what makes the whole College such a fine place."

Andrew Fane OBE

Former Chair of Governors
"It seemed to me that the 6th form centre would offer an environment which was in keeping with university facilities and the modern work place. It effectively bridges the gap between school and the big wide world which our students are about to enter. It also places a flexible learning area right at the heart of the school which emphasises the importance Fram attaches to a good all round education. I therefore contributed to the fund raising to build the 6th form centre ."

James Powell

GOVERNOR AND CHAIRMAN OF FINANCES AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
"It seemed to me that the 6th form centre would offer an environment which was in keeping with university facilities and the modern work place. It effectively bridges the gap between school and the big wide world which our students are about to enter. It also places a fexible learning area right at the heart of the school which emphasises the importance Fram attaches to a good all round education. I therefore contributed to the fund raising to build the 6th form centre ."

Tony Martin

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN
"I am very proud that our family relationship spans over 100 years of College life. I feel I was very privileged that my Father chose the College for my education. I am fortunate that I am now in a position to support the College both financially and by attending the various functions."

John Thurlow

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN and Governor
"My business life has provided so much for me and some considerable time ago I decided that it was important that I put back in to my life those parts that contributed so much to my times."

William Glasse

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN
"Framlingham College was the making of Tom and I cannot thank the school and all the staff enough for what they did for our son. I wish every child had the chance to be a pupil at Framlingham College. "

Anderley Hampson

Ex Parent
"The Framlingham College of the 21st century is a very fine school, and it turns out young men and women of a calibre of which all can be proud. In supporting the appeal one was, in a very minor tokenist way, helping to give young people of today to enjoy the opportunities one had enjoyed oneself."

Norman Porter

Former Hon Governor
"As Grandparents we feel that Framlingham has done Luke proud and he has gained tremendously from his time there."

Angela Marks

Ex Grandparent
"As I reflect on my time at Fram (1944-1950) I am enormously grateful for those formative years, hence my contribution to The Anniversary Appeal."

Prebendary Dr Peter Pytches

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN
"For six years, in many respects, Framlingham was my home and the academic grounding there. The allround education and most importantly the sport had a huge influence on the rest of my life. For this I am forever thankful."

Norman Mayhew

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN
"We entreat the College to continue to educate broadly, care tenderly, and send out well-rounded, good citizens into the world, and we need to support that effort whenever possible."

Chris Shaw and Mike Garnett

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIANs
"I feel privileged to have attended the College, and was honoured to be able to contribute in a small way to the 150th Anniversary Appeal for the Sixth Form Centre, which I am sure will enhance the prospects of pupils who are lucky enough to follow in my footsteps, and those of my father, uncles and cousins and study at Framlingham."

Peter Metcalf

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN
"I have just retired at 75, and anything I have achieved in life I owe to the start I was given at Framlingham, and I have been happy to do what I can to repay that debt."

Jim Butchart

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN
"When Richard changed school, Framlingham was the only choice for him. He enjoyed his time there and he still says it gave him a good start for the life he has today, so much so that when Edward and Jenny became of age they went to Brandeston and then onto the College too."

Wallace Binder

OLD FRAMLINGHAMIAN