Valerie Raymond, neé McLay, was born in Southwark on 18th July 1923. She grew up in Penarth in South Wales. In 1941, following her 18th birthday, she joined up to the Wrens in South Wales (Penarth / Cardiff / Glamorgan). She trained at Mill Hill, lived at Woodford Green, did her theory at Walthamstow College and did her practical at HMS Aerial in Warrington. Although she had initially expressed a preference for supporting the Motor Torpedo Boats, she was sent to the Fleet Air Arm.

Valerie loved her time in the Wrens. We believe there were two Valeries, and she was known as ‘Little Valerie’. She loved the smart uniform, she loved the sense of purpose and the camaraderie. She enjoyed her work on the radios in the planes – though convinced it made her deaf in later years – and drove cars for the first and only time in her life. Her time in the Wrens gave her something that would not have been available to her otherwise. It was expansive and joyful. She met people from different background and gained independence. We often think it was her version of university.

After the war, Valerie returned home to Penarth, South Wales. In November 1947, she married her husband William Alexander (Alec) Raymond, whom she had met as a school girl. She had two children, James (Jimmy or Jim) and Pamela (Pam). Alec died in November 1969, at which point Valerie took on financial responsibility for her household and went to work fulltime in the Civil Service as a Personal Assistant. In her 80s, following a serious operation, Valerie moved to Cheshire to be closer to her son Jimmy.  Following his death in 2020, Valerie moved to London just before her 98th birthday, to live in Herne Hill near to her daughter Pam and her grandchildren.

Valerie was vibrant, independent, well-dressed and opinionated her entire life. She celebrated her 103rd birthday – in person and via Facetime – with her daughter, son-in-law, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A few weeks before her 103rd birthday, Valerie had moved temporarily into a Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution care home, chosen by her due to the good care the Masons had taken of her and her children after the sudden death of her husband. She died unexpectedly but peacefully at RMBI James Terry Court, South Croydon aged 103, 1 month and 22 days.

Sarah Blundell – Valerie’s Granddaughter