The following is a list of the guests that we have been honoured to host at The Society of Old Friends.
If you would like to view edited highlights of many of our Honoured Guests, then please click HERE
| Mr Arthur Waugh | 1910 | Author and Chairman of the Publishers Circle |
| Mr P S Porteous | 1911 | Author |
| Mr William Pett Ridge | 1912 and 1921 | Author of books about London’s East End |
| Mr John Walker | 1913 | Author |
| Mr Yoshio Markino | 1914 | Japanese artist and author |
| Mr Charles Garvice | 1915 | A writer for the English Home |
| Mr Arnold White | 1916 | Journalist known as “Vanoc” of “the Referee” |
| Mr Horatio Bottomley | 1917 | Founder of the Financial Times and Editor of “John Bull” |
| Mr H G Wells | 1918 | Author of The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds |
| Captain Bruce Bairnfather | 1918 | Humourist and cartoonist |
| Ms. Florence Barclay | 1919 | Author of The Rosary |
| Mr John Buchan (Lord Tweedsmuir) | 1920 | Author of The 39 Steps |
| Mr Tom Webster | 1921 | Humourist and cartoonist |
| The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Sir John and Lady Baddeley | 1922 | Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London |
| Major J H Beith (Ian Hay) | 1922 | Schoolmaster and soldier, novelist, playwright, essayist and historian |
| Miss Lena Ashwell OBE | 1923 | Actress |
| Mr Percy Barringer | 1923 | President of the Stationers’ Association |
| Miss Clemence Dane CBE | 1924 | Academy award winning novelist and playwright |
| Mr Gilbert Frankau | 1924 | Novelist |
| Miss Sheila Kaye Smith | 1925 | Novelist |
| Mr P G H Fender | 1925 | Surrey and England Cricketer |
| Dame Emilie Rose Macaulay DBE | 1926 | Novelist best known for The Towers of Trebizond |
| Mr Donald Maxwell | 1926 | Travel writer and illustrator of books including by Kipling |
| The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Lord and Lady Ebbisham | 1927 and 1939 | Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London |
| Mr Morley Roberts | 1927 | Novelist and short story writer |
| Miss Rosita Forbes | 1928 | Travel writer and explorer |
| Mr L G Sloan | 1928 | Unknown |
| Miss Marjorie Bowen | 1929 | Author of The Viper of Milan |
| Mr John Drinkwater | 1929 | Poet and dramatist |
| Mr Bransby Williams | 1930 | Actor, comedian and monologist |
| Mr Michael Sadleir | 1930 | Author of Fanny by Gaslight, historian and book collector |
| Miss Rebecca West CBE | 1931 | Author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer |
| Mr Hilaire Belloc | 1931 | Author, orator, poet, writer of Cautionary Tales for Children and political activist |
| Miss Rose Fyleman | 1932 | Author of childrens books and poets |
| Sir Alan Herbert Kt | 1932 | Humourist, novelist, playwright and law reform activist |
| The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Sir Percy and Lady Greenaway | 1933 | Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London |
| Lady Tree OBE | 1933 | Actress |
| Sir Phillip Gibbs KBE | 1933 | War correspondent of the Daily Telegraph |
| Mrs Beatrice Kean Seymour | 1934 | Novelist and short story writer |
| Sir Edgar L Waterlow Bt | 1934 | Stationer and printer |
| Miss Helen Simpson | 1935 | Australian novelist |
| Mr Humbert Wolfe CB CBE | 1935 | Italian-born British poet, man of letters and civil servant |
| Miss Pamela Frankau | 1936 | Novelist |
| Sir John Berry “Jack” Hobbs | 1936 | Surrey and England Cricketer |
| Mr Sidney J Sandle | 1936 | Master of the Stationers Company |
| Miss Mary Borden | 1937 | American novelist |
| Dr A J Cronin | 1937 | Author of The Citadel |
| Miss Dorothy L Sayers | 1938 | Author of detective stories |
| Sir Hugh Walpole CBE | 1938 | Novelist |
| Miss Helena Grose | 1939 | Novelist |
| Miss Clara Margery Melita Sharp | 1940 | Writer of novels and plays, including The Rescuers |
| Mr F P Bishop MBE | 1941 | Times columnist and internationally respected advocate of advertising self-regulation |
| Mr J B Priestley OM | 1941 | Novelist, playwright, scriptwriter, social commentator, and broadcaster, most famous for his play, An Inspector Calls |
| Miss Marguerite Steen | 1941 | Novelist best known for The Sun is my Undoing |
| The Rt Hon Arthur Greenwood CH | 1941 | Minister without Portfolio in Churchill’s war cabinet |
| Miss Mabel Constanduros | 1942 | Radio star and creator of The Buggin’s Family |
| Commander A B Campbell RD | 1943 | Author of childrens and travel books, member of the BBC Brains Trust |
| Mr Howard Marshall | 1943 | Distinguished BBC sports and outside events commentator |
| Lord Elton | 1945 | Historian |
| Lt Col W A Collins CBE DSO | 1945 | Chairman of the Scottish branch of the Empire Societies War Hospitality Commottee |
| Mr Peter Cheyney | 1946 | Author of detective novels |
| Mr Howard Spring | 1946 | Author and literary critic |
| Mr Norman Collins | 1947 | Writer, radio and television executive, one of the major figures behind the establishment of Independent Television (ITV) |
| Dame Lilian Braithwaite DBE | 1947 | English stage actress |
| Mr R C Robertson-Glasgow | 1948 | Scottish cricketer and cricket writer |
| Mr Richard Dimbleby OBE | 1949 | Journalist and broadcaster, BBC’s first war correspondent, and then its leading TV news commentator. |
| Miss Ruby M Ayres | 1949 | Romance novelist |
| Sir Compton Mackenzie Kt OBE | 1949 | Author of Monarch of the Glen and co-founder of the SNP |
| Mr Wilfred Pickles OBE | 1950 | Actor and Radio Presenter |
| Mr Stuart Hibberd MBE | 1950 | Senior BBC announcer |
| Miss Monica Dickens | 1951 | English writer, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens |
| Mr Harold Abrahams CBE | 1952 | Olympic Champion and inspiration for Chariots of Fire |
| Mr L A G Strong | 1952 | Novelist, critic, historian and poet |
| Mr Hammond Innes | 1953 | Writer of over 30 novels, as well as children’s and travel books |
| Mr Leslie Mitchell | 1953 | Radio and televison announcer, the first voice heard on BBC Television |
| Mr Claud Mullins | 1954 | Lawyer |
| Mr Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald | 1954 | Journalist, naturalist and writer of books on wildlife, cats, and dogs |
| The Rt Hon Viscount Soulbury GCVO GCMG OBE MC DL |
1955 | Conservative politician, government minister 1931-1941 and Governor-General of Ceylon |
| The Rt Hon The Lord Winster KCMG | 1955 | Liberal then Labour politician, Minister of Civil Aviation 1945-1946, Governor of Cyprus 1946-1949 |
| Mr Peter Scott CBE DSC | 1956 | Conservationist, painter, naval officer, broadcaster and sportsman. Founder World Wide Fund for Nature |
| Miss Pat Smythe MBE | 1956 | One of Britain’s premier female showjumpers and writer of pony books for children |
| Miss Nancy Spain | 1957 | Broadcaster, journalist, columnist and panelist on What’s My Line? and Juke Box Jury |
| Mr Christopher Brasher | 1957 | Olympic Champion and later founder of the London Marathon |
| Miss Noel Streatfield | 1957 | Writer of fiction and non-fiction |
| Lt Cmdr P K Kemp RN (Retd) | 1958 | Author of books on naval history |
| Mr Kenneth Wolstenholme DFC | 1958 | Journalist, decorated bomber pilot and football commentator |
| Lady Grenfell | 1959 | Daughter of the Duke of Malborough |
| His Honour Sir Gerald Hargreaves | 1959 | Writer of Atalanta: A Story of Atlantis: A Fantasy with Music |
| Miss Margaret Rawlings | 1960 | Stage actress and co-founder of Equity, the actors’ union |
| Mr Uffa Fox CBE | 1960 | Boat designer and sailing enthusiast |
| Miss Anona Winn MBE | 1961 | Australian-born actress, broadcaster and singer |
| Mr Jim Laker | 1961 | England spin bowler who took 19 wickets in a match v Australia |
| Mrs Bud Flanagan | 1962 | Wife of vaudeville entertainer of Flanagan and Allen fame |
| Mr Vivian Ellis | 1962 | Musical comedy composer best known for the song “Spread a Little Happiness” |
| Miss Jessie Mattthews | 1963 | Actress, dancer and singer in the 20s and 30s, later an actress |
| Col J D Henson MBE MC | 1963 | Decorated soldier served in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the War Office |
| Sir Barnes N Wallis CBE FRS | 1964 | Scientist, engineer and inventor of the bouncing bomb |
| Miss Elizabeth Bowen CBE | 1964 | Irish novelist and short story writer |
| Mr Michael Hornby | 1965 | Vice chairman of WHSmith, the British retail chain, for over 20 years |
| Miss Ruby Miller | 1965 | British stage and film actress. Originally one of George Edwardes’ ‘Gaiety Girls’ |
| Mr Eric Robinson | 1966 | Conductor and presenter of music for the BBC |
| Mrs N Jonathan Routh | 1966 | Wife of the star of Candid Camera |
| Dr Richard Gordon (pen name of Gordon Ostlere) | 1967 | Surgeon and anaesthetist writer of The Doctor in the House novels and screenplays |
| Dame Joan Vickers DBE MP | 1967 | Conservative politician |
| The Hon Patrick Maitland, 17th Earl of Lauderdale | 1968 | Scottish Unionist politician |
| Miss Margaret Powell | 1968 | Writer whose book Below Stairs inspired Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey |
| Mr Alan Bestic | 1969 | Irish author of Escape from Auschwitz |
| Miss Jilly Cooper OBE | 1969 | Writer of romance novels, notably Riders and the Rutshire Chronicles |
| Lord Francis Williams CBE | 1970 | Editor of the Dail Herald and PR Advisor top Clement Attlee |
| Miss Christina Foyle | 1970 | Bookseller and owner of Foyles bookshop |
| Lord Justice Sir H Gordon Willmer OBE TD MA | 1971 | The acknowledged master of Admiralty Law |
| Miss Harriet Crawley | 1971 | Author of The Lovers and the Loved |
| Mr George MacDonald Fraser | 1972 | Author of novels and screenplays. Best known for stories featuring the character, Flashman |
| Miss Audrey Slaughter | 1972 | Magazine editor who founded Honey and Petticoat, stepmother of Anna Wintour |
| Mr W Stewart MC MA | 1973 | Master of Haileybury College |
| Miss Renee Houston | 1973 | Scottish comedy actress and revue artist who appeared in television and film roles |
| Mr Peter Bull | 1974 | Character actor and writer |
| Mrs Patricia Gibson | 1974 | Britain’s top secretary |
| The Rt Hon Lord Peddie MBE JP | 1975 | Businessman and politician, a leading figure in the UK co-operative movement |
| Mrs Dorothy Dunnett | 1975 | Scottish historical novelist |
| Mr Allan Prior | 1976 | Television scriptwriter and novelist, founder-writer of Z Cars |
| Mrs Rosa Maria Letts | 1976 | Art historian and lecturer |
| Mr Alfred Howard MM BEM | 1977 | Town crier and entertainer at the Society’s childrens parties |
| Mrs Barbarta Cartland DStJ | 1977 | Author of romance novels, one of the most prolific and best-selling authors of the 20th century |
| The Rt Hon Earl Mountbatten of Burma KG GCB GCSI GCVO OM DSO |
1978 | Rear Admiral, last Viceroy of India |
| Mr Frank Muir | 1978 | Comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. Host of Call My Bluff! |
| Mrs Claire Rayner | 1979 | Nurse, journalist, broadcaster and novelist, best known as an agony aunt |
| Mr John Snagge OBE | 1979 | British newsreader and commentator on BBC Radio – read 1st bulletin ever on BBC TV News |
| Mollie Sugden (Mrs W Moore) | 1980 | Actress best know as Mrs Slocombe in Are You Being Served? |
| Mr Peter Wolfe | 1980 | Old Friend and renowned after-dinner speaker |
| Miss Katie Boyle | 1981 | TV personality and game-show panelist, known for presenting the Eurovision Song Contest in the 60s and 70s |
| Mr Ivor Spencer | 1981 | Founder of the Ivor Spencer International School for Butlers and the Professional School for Toastmasters |
| Miss Joan Barrell | 1982 | Publisher of women’s magazines |
| The Rt Hon Enoch Powell MBE MP MA | 1982 | Conservative and Ulster Unionist politician, classical scholar, linguist, and poet |
| Baroness Phillips of Fulham JP | 1983 | Labour politician and magistrate. First female whip in the House of Lords. |
| Mr Monty Moss | 1983 | Chairman of Moss Bros tailors |
| Ms Audrey Eyton | 1984 | Founder of Slimming World and author of the F Plan Diet |
| The Hon Mark Bonham Carter Bt | 1984 | Politician and publisher, 1st Chairman of the Race Relations Board |
| Miss Molly Weir | 1985 | Scottish actress best known for Hazel the McWitch in Rentaghost |
| Mr Leslie Thomas OBE | 1985 | Novelist and author best known for The Virgin Soldiers |
| Mrs Marguerite Patten CBE | 1986 | Home economist, food writer and broadcaster |
| Sir Simon Hornby | 1986 | Chairman of WH Smith, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Design Council |
| Mr David Jacobs CBE | 1987 | Presenter of Juke Box Jury, Any Questions and Radio 2 broadcaster |
| Mr Cardew Robinson | 1987 | British comic, whose craft was rooted in the music hall and gang shows |
| Mr Barry Norman CBE | 1988 | Film critic, media personality, novelist |
| The Rt Hon The Lord Grade of Elstree KCSS | 1988 | Media proprietor, theatrical impressario and talent agent |
| Mrs Sylvia Haymon | 1989 | Writer, author of children’s and youth literature and detective novels |
| Mr Frank Delaney | 1989 | Irish author and screenwriter |
| Miss Jean Rook | 1990 | Journalist and Daily Express columnist |
| Mr Charlie Smithers | 1990 | One of Britain’s best known club comedians |
| Miss Virginia McKenna OBE | 1990 | Stage and screen actress, author and wildlife campaigner |
| Sir Rex Hunt | 1991 | Governor of the Falkland Islands at the time of the Falklands war |
| Miss Moira Shearer, Lady Kennedy | 1991 | Internationally renowned actress and ballet dancer |
| Mr Emlyn Hughes OBE | 1992 | Captain of Liverpool and England and media personality |
| Mrs Lynda Lee-Potter OBE | 1992 | Award winning Daily Mail journalist |
| Mr David Mellor QC MP | 1993 | MP, Cabinet minister, broadcaster, journalist and businessman |
| Miss Alison Halford | 1993 | Britain’s most senior female police officer, later member of the Welsh Assembly |
| Sir Chris Bonnington CVO, CBE, DL | 1994 | Mountaineer, explorer, author and fundraiser |
| Mrs Jenny Pitman OBE | 1994 | Racehorse trainer and author. Tthe first woman to train a Grand National winner |
| Mr Ken Livingstone MP | 1995 | MP, Leader of the GLC and 1st Mayor of London |
| Mrs Frances Edmonds | 1995 | Author of books on cricket and touring |
| Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE | 1996 | British Army Officer; explorer and adventurer |
| Ms Maureen Lipman CBE | 1996 | Film, theatre and television actress, columnist and comedian |
| Mr Jimmy Hill OBE | 1997 | Footballer, coach, manager, PFA leader and Match of the Day host |
| Ms Nina Myskow | 1997 | Journalist and TV personality |
| Sir Gerald Kaufman MP | 1998 | Former Government minister and member of the Shadow Cabinet |
| Miss Janet Brown | 1998 | Actress, comedian, impressionist |
| Col John Blashford-Snell OBE | 1999 | Army officer, explorer and author. Founded the Scientific Exploration Society |
| Dame Mary Peters CH DBE | 1999 | Olympic champion pentathlete, fundraiser and community ambassador |
| Mr Christopher Martin-Jenkins MBE | 2000 | Journalist presenter of Test Match Special and President of MCC |
| Mr Tony Bullimore | 2000 | Round the world yachtsman |
| Mr Jack Charlton OBE DL | 2001 | England world cup winning footballer and football manager |
| Miss Janet Street-Porter CBE | 2002 | Journalist, newspaper editor, media personality |
| Mr Tim Brooke-Taylor OBE | 2002 | Comic actor, author and media personality |
| Mr Monty Raphael | 2002 | Renowned lawyer specialising in financial wrongdoing |
| Professor Heinz Wolff | 2003 | German-British scientist, and television and radio presenter |
| Mr Jonathan Straker | 2003 | President of BOSS, Master of The Stationers Company |
| Mr Ronnie Corbett CBE | 2004 | Comedian, actor, writer, broadcaster |
| Ms Anita Harris | 2004 | Actress, singer and entertainer |
| Mr Peter Osgood | 2005 | Chelsea, Southampton and England footballer |
| Miss Jennie Bond | 2005 | Journalist, TV presenter and BBC Royal Correspondent |
| Mr Jim Bowen | 2006 | Stand-up comedian and TV personality, best known for Bullseye |
| Ms Eve Pollard OBE Lady Lloyd | 2007 | The First Lady of Fleet Street, newspaper editor and author |
| Mr David Hamilton | 2007 | Radio Broadcaster |
| Sir Tim Smit KBE | 2008 | Environmentalist creator of the Eden Project |
| Mr Robbie Glen | 2008 | Prison Governor and raconteur |
| Lord Jeffrey Archer | 2009 | Novelist, former MP and Conservative Party Vice Chairman |
| Sir Anthony ‘Tony’ Robinson | 2009 | Actor, comedian, television presenter, political activist |
| Dr Kevin Jones | 2010 | Consultant physician at Papworth, senior regristrar at Barts, raconteur |
| Mr Eddie Bell | 2010 | Publisher of Margaret Thatcher and Mikael Gorbachev’s memoirs |
| Ms Angela Rippon CBE | 2011 | Television journalist, newsreader, writer and presenter |
| Mr Alec Stewart OBE | 2012 | Surrey and England cricket captain |
| Mr Al Murray | 2012 | Satirical comedian and author, creator of the ‘Pub Landlord’ |
| Sgt Major Bill Callaghan | 2013 | Yeoman Warder at HM Tower of London |
| Mr Kris Akabusi MBE | 2013 | Commonwealth, European and Wrold Champion Athlete |
| Mr Rick Wakeman | 2014 | Musician with the band Yes and many others, writer and media personality |
| Ms Sandi Toksvig OBE | 2014 | Comedian, author, media personality, co-founder of Women’s Equality Party |
| Mr Nicholas Parsons CBE | 2015 | Actor, radio and TV presenter |
| Rev Richard Coles | 2015 | Musician, journalist, media personality and priest |
| Michael Binyon OBE | 2016 | Journalist and eminent foreign correspondent |
| Ms. Meera Syal CBE | 2016 | Comedian, writer, playwright, producer and actress |
| Mrs Fiona Bruce | 2017 | Newsreader and TV presenter of Antiques Roadshow |
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