Motivational Monday – Sally Friend MBE

We enjoyed welcoming back some of our octogenarian alumnae this term, many of whom are still working.

Our latest Motivational Monday focuses on one of them, Sally Friend MBE, and celebrates the incredible contribution that so many of our senior alumnae continue to make to society.

Sally Friend (née Josephs) left South Hampstead in 1954; she has fond memories of her time at the school and of all the teachers – despite ‘being a little afraid of them’. She recalls that Miss Potter, the Headmistress, was adored by everyone. Sally had an incredibly close group of friends at South Hampstead, friends she is still in touch with and sees regularly to this day. She credits South Hampstead for helping her to know when to speak her own mind, when to hold back, and how to speak to and engage with different people – skills that have served her well in her career and later life.

Following school, Sally studied journalism and then worked in film production. After a career break to bring up her family, she become involved with an organisation helping to secure financial reparations for families whose bank accounts had been forcibly frozen during the Holocaust. Alongside this, she began working as an advisor on Housing and Law tribunals and, latterly, was employed as a Mental Health Manager working on medical board patient assessments. She feels privileged to work in an area that is meaningful and has social purpose: “It’s hard work but, once in a while, we change somebody’s life, and that’s an amazing feeling.”  Sally was awarded an MBE for her services to mental health in 1985 and continues the work, despite being well into her 80s.

Sally’s advice to our current pupils and younger alumnae? “Have a good time, enjoy every day, and don’t worry too much – nothing is the end of the world. You have so much time. And be kind!”

She remains a dedicated ambassador for the school and continues to play an active role in helping us to stay in touch and keep up to date with our community – a wonderful alumnae role model for the younger generation. Read more about our recent ladies lunch here.

Self-assured, confident, different – in a good way! I can always immediately spot South Hampstead girls because of the way they carry themselves.