I (David) was a junior trainee paediatrician at the Nuffield Speech and Hearing Centre 1971-2; Valerie was one of my mentors in this aspect of my specialty - one (of the many) of which I was totally ignorant. I have followed her career since then - 46 years - and greatly admired her creativity and expertise. It has been a privilege to know Valerie and Paul as good friends. We have just returned from our home in South Africa and I and my wife Susan, and our daughters Emma and Vanessa, were so sad to learn of Valerie's death. It was a life well lived and now we offer our condolences to Paul and the family.