Valda LYNEN

I am so sorry for the loss of such a vibrant and intelligent lady. I always remember how interesting and clever Valda was and enjoyed listening to her chatting to my parents. I will treasure the book she wrote about my father. Sending you all lots of love xxx

Très chère Valda, nos conversations vont me manquer et je n'aurais plus le plaisir de vous offrir une tablette de chocolat blanc, au revoir.
Patrick, votre aide soignant

Dear Valda

I got in contact, hopeful, to say that so many years ago you made a courageous, intelligent and positive decision that was transformatively beneficial to all concerned, only to find that courageous, intelligent and positive was who you were as a person. It has felt like a splendid 3 years of friendship. Email-letters, phone calls and visits allowed for swift connection. The privilege of getting to know, and being welcomed by, Anna, Remy and his family followed. You were forever intellectually curious and ethically centred in a way that felt like a kindred spirit in so many ways. It was an honour to get to know you over the time we had and it is such a loss to Gill and I that you are no longer with us. It is still so difficult to process that your ‘force of nature’ is now silenced but it remains to cherish your memory, the privilege of knowing you, and condole with Anna and Remy and his family for their sad, sad loss.

With fond memories
Andrew & Gill

Dear Anna,

Thank-you for letting me know of Valda's passing.

She and I had been friends since we were about 12. We were never boy and girlfriend but shared many good times together.

I remember inviting her to a charity walk at the boys' school I taught at in 1965 when we were both living in London. She turned up looking like a fashion model. Unfortunately, she was wearing stiletto heels so we couldn't take part because the route went cross-country. None the less, she had been seen by the entire school who assumed she was my girlfriend.

My stock amongst staff and students shot sky-high. She was a truly beautiful young woman and I was very fond of her.
Please accept my condolences and pass them on to Remy. I hope all goes well on Monday.

Affectionally,
David
x

On Monday 23rd, I will light a candle and remember all the times we spent together. This includes when my marriage ended and Valda came to spend two weeks with me. She was incredibly supportive.

Valda, as you know, was a strong character, but also amazingly brave. It is truely incredible the number of dreadful health issues she went through, with such resilience and bravery. Particularly, the last couple of years, which she spent isolated in bed with careers just twice a day.

Of course, Anna, you were her rock and she often said she couldn't have managed without you. Rémy, also you kept her going with your weekly calls and videos of the children. She looked forward so much to your visits.

> I first met Valda when I was 21 years old. I had just started my first teaching job in Oldham and was struggling to find decent accommodation.
I saw an advert in local paper asking for a professional lady to share her house to help with the mortgage.
I thought I had landed in heaven. She had a two terraced house, but as you would expect from Valda, it was beautifully renovated and artistic.
I lived there for a year, when Valda decided she had had enough of rainy, old dull Oldham !
I sold her my Mini Austin and off she went to France. She didn't speak a word of french, or know anything about the country or its geography !

As I said a very brave lady.

The rest, as they say is history and well documented in her books.
I am going to miss a very dear friend very much, especially our weekly rants about Donald J. Trump !
Sam, Dave and I send our condolences and wish you both all the best for the future. I hope you will keep in touch.

Deep condolences and love,

Gill
/ xx