Happy Birthday, Dear “Friend”
Today, our dear “Friend” celebrates its 152nd birthday.
And not only is it surviving, it’s thriving!
No other women’s magazine has reached this milestone. The “Friend”, after all, is the longest-running women’s magazine in the world. As certified by Guinness World Records, no less!
Exactly 152 years ago, on January 13, 1869, the very first issue was published. It quickly found it way into the hearts of its readers and has remained central to their lives ever since.
To mark the occasion, I thought I’d share some of my favourite “Friend” moments from the last few years. Starting with the photo at the top of the page, taken at our London birthday party in January 2019. What an occasion that was!
Images of friendship
We have had many visitors to the “Friend” office over the years.
In 2015, Design Editor Jaclyn brought her dog Buttons to work for the day. He turned out to be a natural at page layouts!
Photograph by DC Thomson Ltd.
Not long after that, we moved to our newly refurbished offices in Dundee city centre.
It was there that we played host to Therapy Ponies Scotland. How cute were they!
Photograph by DC Thomson Ltd.
Our Archives have long been a source of inspiration to the editorial team.
I love this picture of Jacki, Moira and Wendy after a vintage 1940s makeover. They are so glamorous!
And through our archives I have made two lovely new friends in academics Juliet Shields and Charlotte Lauder.
I was honoured to take part in an event at the National Library of Scotland with them in our 150th year.
Photograph by DC Thomson Ltd.
Favourite contributor Polly Pullar has become a firm friend, too.
Here we are together in Wigtown in 2017 for the fabulous annual Book Festival.
Of course, it’s the “Friend” team who put in all the hard work to make the magazine a success.
This picture of us all, taken in 2018, is a little out of date now . . .
I am so looking forward to the day when we can all be together again to update it.
That will be another memory to treasure.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my selection of snaps and will join me in wishing the “Friend” a very happy birthday.
Here’s to the next 152 years!
To take look back at our fantastic 150th anniversary celebrations, click here.
