Welcome to the web site of the Old Farnhamians' Association,
an organisation that united the former pupils and staff of
Farnham Grammar School (until its dissolution in October 2022)

_____________________________________________

During the period 1585 to 1973, Farnham Grammar School educated several thousand boys from the town of Farnham and the surrounding villages; in the later years, many boys from other towns such as Guildford, Woking and Godalming also attended this school. The OFA exists to provide a continuing link amongst the 'old boys' of that school.

If you are a former pupil of Farnham Grammar School, you will be particularly interested in this web site. The Association was wound up in October 2022 and membership no longer exists, but web membership will continue for the time being for data protection purposes. This web site is however an accumulated collection of the history of the old school, its boys and masters, and the events that influenced and moulded the lives of many people. The information gathered here can be passed on to future generations. It is hoped that this web site will therefore exist, in some form, after the OFA and FGS have passed into history.

This site continues to connect old school friends who may have lost contact. Activities organised by the association have now ceased, but ad hoc get togethers will take place and old boys are invited to send the webmaster information to be announced to assist in arranging such activities at info@farnhamians.org

There is a section on this site containing news of old boys that has been contributed by the old boys themselves and others. This information is to be found in the Web-Members Section, which can be accessed, without charge, by registering and obtaining a password (click the Members' Section ). You will be asked to state your name, indicating the years you attended the school, and giving your e-mail address (please be precise with this). The password will be e-mailed to you shortly thereafter. Your details will be retained for updating you on how to access the section should we change the password in the future. (This procedure is to minimise the risk of old boys receiving unsolicited communications by having personal details visible in the public section of the site.)

During 2003. we established an on-line library of The Farnhamian magazines, published between 1912 and 1973, plus the OFA newsletters that were distributed thereafter until 1993. The library is split into a Public Section (magazines more than 70 years old) and an OFA Members’ Library. These files are well worth reading. Most of them display the magazines as true images of the original printed versions, but with the great advantage that you can search the magazines for names etc. Click here to find out how to access this part of the website.

Please contribute to this site and The Farnhamian by e-mailing news of yourself and other old boys. Contact e-mail addresses are shown in the Web-Members Section. Please indicate if you are willing for your e-mail address to be quoted in the Web-Members Section so that people can get in touch with you.

 

Brian R Williams (1959 – 1965)

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of Dr Brian Williams, former OFA Chairman,
on 10th September 2025. 
Funeral arrangements are a cremation on Friday 26th September at 10am at
Amersham Crematorium (also known as Chilterns Crematorium),
Whieldon Lane, Amersham HP7 0ND.
The family will be holding a wake afterwards, and details of this will be available on the day.
Old Boys planning to attend are asked to advise either Roger Edgell or Richard Phillips (07973-193449) for catering purposes.
There will be family flowers only and a chance to donate to the Alzheimer’s Society on the day.

Tributes

Updated Wednesday, 17 September, 2025

________________________________

 

John H. Crotty (1942 – 1948)

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of John Crotty who was

a most loyal and supportive old boy of Farnham Grammar School.  For many years
he was an inspiring Secretary of our Old Boys’ Association followed by a period as our President.
A man of constant good humour and considerable wit and an excellent speaker, he also served as a diligent
trustee of the Farnham Educational Foundation for a long period.
We send our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Joan and his family.

A thanksgiving service for John's long life will be held at
St Thomas on the Bourne, Frensham Road, Farnham  GU9 8HA at 2pm on Friday, 8 August 2025.
Family flowers only. Donations to
alzheimers.org.uk are very welcome.

The service can be followed live
(or, after the event, on a recording) by
going to
https://www.thebourne.org.uk/
and then clicking on the YouTube link which says
"Watch services, recorded or live, from home". 
This takes you to our YouTube channel which is
https://www.youtube.com/@thebourneparish7615/streams

John Crotty’s war recollections – click here

Postscript on 25 August 2025:  The family have sent warm thanks via the webmaster to the many old boys who joined with them on the day,
both at the church and on-line and by sending kind wishes.

 

Updated 4 August, 2025

________________________________

 

Stephen Haswell (1970 – 1977)

We are sad to announce the sudden death of Stephen Haswell. .  
The funeral will take place on Monday 23rd June at 1 pm at St. Peter's Church, Ash GU12 6LU
.

 

 Click here

 

_______________

 

 

Photogaph of the last meeting of the General Committee that took place on 28 April 2022.

________________________________

Links within this Site:

 indicates a recent update

Other Pages on this Web Site

 

Room 304 – Opening of Memorabilia Exhibition 15 Dec 2021 

Remembering Wm Bastow – 8 December 2018  

Sir Jeffrey Tate CBE – Unveiling of Plaque 29 May 2018 

Magna Carta Event on 20 September 2015 

Memorabilia Museum

80th Anniversary Garden Party Report & Pictures

History Focus 1905-6

Obituaries         

Listing of Recent Deaths

Memorial Page for Cyril Trust   

Memorial Page for George Baxter   (Updated 4 Oct 2021)

Memorial Page for John McLaughlin  

Unveiling of Bust of George Baxter 10 Oct 2006 

George Baxter – Special Celebration 24th Aug 2004

Late Leonard Evans - Celebration

School Song

Old Farnhamians' Scholarship Trust

Old School Pictures New – 1970 6th Form pics

Samuel Locke, Headmaster 1800 - 1823

1955 Intake on 22 February 2020    

1957 Intake on 28 May 2025       

HM Queen’s 90th Birthday – Garden Party 5th June 2016 

OFA Members’ Library

Brief History

Southampton Lunch 2013

Southampton Lunch 2014

Southampton Lunch 2015  

Autumn Lunch 2016 

Autumn Lunch 2017 

Autumn Lunch 2018  

Autumn Lunch 2019  

Farnham 400 Trust    

Report & Photos of 82nd Annual Dinner

Report & Photos of 83rd Annual Dinner  

Report & Photos of 84th Annual Dinner 

Report & Photos of 85th Annual Dinner 

Report & Photos of 86th Annual Dinner   Report & Photos of 87th Annual Dinner   

88th President’s Annual Dinner & Autumn Lunch 6 Oct 2021 

89th President’s Annual Dinner & Autumn Lunch 5 Oct 2022  

The Talented Mr Chandler by Guy Bellamy

Public Library of Farnhamian Magazines

FGS Scouts

Reminiscences 

The First Farnham Festival in 1961

First OFA/FGGS Joint Garden Party 19 June 2010  

Second OFA/FGGS Joint Garden Party 23 June 2012

 

Post-Dissolution Activities etc

Roger Edgell’s Newsletter – Go to Members' Section

Link to associated Web Sites:

1969 Intake

FGGS Old Girls’ Association

___________

To advise items suitable for announcement on this website or to correct any errors,
 please email
info@farnhamians.org
___________

Site last updated Wednesday, 17 September, 2025


visitors to this site since May 2000