From: Sally Morris <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 16:04:38 +0100

I'd like to add my condolences on Fred's passing.  He was a doughty champion
of libraries' interests long before he took up the cause of Open Access.
For instance, he was a prime mover (with Jan Velterop) in creating the
original 'Big Deal' with key publishers.

I worked with him on numerous issues, trying to understand and accommodate
the interests of both libraries and publishers in attempting to serve
scholars.  While we often disagreed, sometimes quite vigorously, Fred was
always courteous and constructive and the discussions were both stimulating
and enlightening.  He will be much missed.

Sally
Email:  [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----

From: David Prosser <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 13:35:23 +0100

I have been tasked with a very sad commission.  Neither Alma or Paul are
subscribers to Liblicesne and so they have asked me to post the message
below.  Fred was a gentle man and a compelling open access advocate.  We
will miss him and our thoughts are with his family - who I know he cherished
greatly.

David

-------------------------------
A message from Alma Swan ([log in to unmask]) and Paul Ayris
([log in to unmask]):

Friends,

It is with great sadness that we have to tell you of the death last week of
Fred Friend.

Fred was one of the staunchest supporters of Open Access and worked to
further its aims for almost two decades. Early in that period he was, of
course, Librarian at University College London, a position that gave him
influence and the means to push arguments for openness that were at the time
new and considered rather heretical. After retirement from that post Fred
served for many years as a consultant to JISC, advising and carrying out
research work for JISC on scholarly communications. He was in his element in
this role as it gave him the opportunities he needed to continue making the
arguments for Open Access and to develop practical initiatives that helped
to advance the cause. Latterly, Fred pursued his aims through continuing
consultancy jobs and indeed at the time of his death he was embarking on an
ambitious analysis of OA policies.

We have lost a very good friend of Open Access and a great humanitarian. For
many there will also be the feeling of losing a kind and loyal personal
friend.

His daughter, Cate, said to us, "It means so much to hear about his
professional life - he was so private and so humble that he never really
talked about what he did (I used to joke with him and tell him that I told
everyone that he was a spy!)." We would like the OA community -- Fred's
friends -- to let Cate and the rest of Fred's family know about the work
Fred did and the great colleague that he was, so we are going to collect
tributes to Fred and his work and will put these together into a book for
his family.

If you have something to say, please email your words to one of us,
including your job title where relevant to give some context to your
comments for the family. Thank you in advance for your contributions.

For those who can attend the funeral, the ceremony will be held at 12.30pm
on Thursday 1st May at St Michael and All Angels, Hughenden, near High
Wycombe in the UK. The family will welcome anyone who can be with them on
that occasion.