Valentine Ewen 1941

Val Ewen, who most people in the village remember as the lady with the scotty dog “Mr Fin”, collapsed and died on Friday 7th December while walking her dog.

Val was born on Valentines Day in Londonderry Northern Ireland, the second youngest of a family of six. At 18 years of age she left Londonderry to become a student nurse in Greenwich London. In 1962 she qualified to become Staff Nurse and in 1964 she achieved Ward Sister status.

Those who have lived in Oxhill for many years may remember Al, Val’s husband, who she married in March 1965. Their first home was in Crayford, Kent and Val often told the story of how Al had to camp out to get first option to buy the house, which I’m sure those of a certain age will remember. They moved to Oxhill in 1978.

Al died in 1998 and Val carried on her District Nursing career in South Warwickshire until she retired. Val and Al loved to travel and it was still something Val liked to do. In 2011 she spent two months in Australia with her dear friends Geri and John to celebrate her 70th birthday.

She has been a member of the fund raising committee of the PCC for the last twelve years and always gave her support.

All her many friends will have great memories. She touched so many people with her kindness and her sense of humour. She was very highly thought of by everyone that knew her. There is a little story I would like to tell of Val when she left the NHS and for ten years was employed as Welfare and Personnel Officer for an industrial company and when she handed in her resignation the Managing Director wrote to her and a couple of things he said were. “I personally will always think of you whenever I judge the role of Personnel. I ask that you do one thing before you leave us, recruit someone equal to you - impossible I agree, but try!” I think that tells you everything.

Val was a true friend to many. We will miss her.

[Thank you to Gaida Webb for her wonderful words.]

This site is maintained by villagers of Oxhill for the benefit of the community and those interested in the history, news and activities that make the village such a pleasant place to live.

Send mail to the editor of the Oxhill News at news-editor @ oxhill.org.uk.

Last modified: December 27, 2012