Val was born in Bedford, moving to the South Coast with her family, before attending Portsmouth Training College in the 1960's.  There she met and married her husband before hedge hopping round Britain and then to South Africa for 3 years.  In 1980 she eventually returned to Littlehampton  where her two son's grew up. 

Having taken early retirement from primary school teaching, she embarked on an O.U Degree course, partly to keep the grey matter in good shape and also to prove to her 2 sons she was as capable as them of putting BA after her name!

She was widowed in 1998.   After trying various organisations she was introduced to The U3A five years ago, and quickly found herself involved, hosting Current Affairs, as well as joining the Committee. 

Her outside interests include being a committee member of the Littlehampton Twinning Association, and she is a school governor.  She has just become the proud Grandmother to twins.