reporter who posed as a man to join the army in World War I, was later confined in Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum (latterly Friern Hospital), where she died. Jack Cohen, founder of the Tesco retail chain, funded with his wife the Jewish care facility Lady Sarah Cohen House in Friern Barnet. Hazel Alden Reason (1901–1976), chemist and popular science writer, was born in Friern Barnet. H. G. H. Kearns (1902–1986), an entomologist with a strong knowledge of engineering, was born in Friern Barnet. Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005), comedian and actor, was educated at Woodhouse Grammar School. Colin Pearson (1923–2007), a studio potter and art teacher, was born in Friern Barnet. Edgar Mann (1926–2013), a politician who chaired the Executive Council of the Isle of Man and then headed its government, was educated at Woodhouse Barnet Grammar School. John Williams (born 1941), classical guitarist, was educated at Friern Barnet Grammar School Václav Jelínek (born 1944), Czech spy who was arrested in his flat in Friern Barnet on 22 April 1988, while in the process of receiving coded messages by radio. Neil 'Roberto' Williams (born 1978), a radio and TV presenter, was educated at Friern Barnet Grammar School. Girls Aloud pop group who resided at Princess Park Manor. Housing The housing typically consists of late Victorian and early Edwardian properties, along with other large houses of later periods and many smaller semi-detached and terraced houses. Much of the property is owner-occupied, but in recent years many of the larger properties have been subdivided into flats and bedsitters. There are also some areas of modern housing, notably Princess Park Manor, a luxury redevelopment of the once-famous Victorian institution the Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum (later Friern Hospital). Friern Village Adjacent to Princess Park Manor is a modern housing development called Friern Village. This was once the area farmed by the Colney Hatch Hospital residents. In 1998 the newly formed local residents' association held a ballot among the new residents to find a name for this new area. The name Friern Village was chosen and subsequently the residents' association changed its name to the Friern Village Residents' Association. A new public park in front of Princess Park Manor, in Friern Barnet Road, was named Friern Village Park. Economy The Friern Barnet Retail Park near the North Circular Road houses several retailers including Currys PC World, B&Q and Furniture Village. Geography Parks and open spaces Friern Barnet