Hilary Friend, a dedicated adult educator and passionate advocate for women's music, has died at the age of 82. Her remarkable career combined a commitment to inclusive education with a deep involvement in musical projects that championed female artists across multiple genres.
A Lifelong Dedication to Education and Music
Following her classics and philosophy degree at Oxford in 1966 and a PGCE at King's College London, Friend embarked on a teaching career that spanned languages, philosophy, and literature in various schools and colleges. For two decades beginning in 1974, she worked as both a tutor and manager within adult education systems across inner-city London, Bedford, and Manchester. Her focus consistently centered on equal opportunities and providing second-chance education to underserved communities.
Leadership in Community Education
From 1985 to 1988, Friend served as head of the North Hulme centre, part of Manchester City Council's community education service. This period coincided with significant urban redevelopment programmes in Manchester, presenting unique challenges for educators striving to maintain community engagement. Friend seized this opportunity to advance her advocacy for inclusive educational models for all residents. She formalized her insights through an MA thesis at Manchester University, which examined the intersection of inner-city regeneration and adult education.
Championing Women's Music Through WRPM
In 1999, Friend assumed the directorship of the Women's Revolutions Per Minute (WRPM) project, a non-profit company dedicated to researching, marketing, and selling music created by women. Founded in 1977, WRPM specialized in world music and political songs. Friend led this initiative until 2012, when she deposited the comprehensive WRPM collection and archive at Goldsmiths, University of London, subsequently becoming a visiting research fellow there.
Her scholarly contributions continued with a co-authored chapter on WRPM in the Routledge Companion to Women and Musical Leadership, published in 2024. This work cemented her legacy in documenting and promoting women's leadership within the music industry.
Personal Musical Journey and Late-Life Education
Despite her academic background in classics and philosophy, Friend maintained a clear preference for music throughout her life. While studying at St Hilda's College, Oxford, she established a choir, demonstrating early organizational skills in musical settings. In a testament to her lifelong learning spirit, at age 64 she enrolled in a music access course at Morley College in London. There, she enthusiastically composed her own music and experimented with sound and technology. She further expanded her musical horizons through courses in a cappella singing, folk music, and voicework.
A skilled pianist and recorder player, Friend also participated actively in several choirs, blending her personal musical pursuits with her professional advocacy.
Feminism, Nature, and Personal Life
A committed feminist, Friend combined her love of nature with a steadfast dedication to social justice. She supported initiatives like the Right to Roam movement, which advocates for public access to open countryside. Colleagues remember her as a creative force with a strong moral compass, quiet dignity, and self-confidence. She possessed a special talent for communicating with children and generously shared her knowledge with those around her.
Born in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, Friend grew up with two sisters, Judith and Alison. In 1949, when she was six, her father, John Friend, became principal of Bretton Hall College of Education in West Yorkshire. Her mother, Mary (née Pamenter), volunteered in the college library. Friend lived at the college for fourteen years, attending Wakefield Girls' High School during this period.
In 1971, she married Michael Turnbull, a New Zealand author and publishing professional. The couple had two daughters, Isabel and Diana, before divorcing in 1996. Michael Turnbull died in 1998. Hilary Friend is survived by her daughters and her granddaughter, Melissa.
