AV News 193 - August 2013
Tribute to Our Valerie
Tony Scammells
In case you've not heard the news, our
dear friend, colleague and 'mentor',
Valerie Rawlins died suddenly at home
in the early hours of Saturday 20th April
2013.
Valerie had been taken ill with a
perforated oesophagus in June 2012
whilst on a photographic holiday with
two friends in the New Forest and had
spent many months in and out of
hospitals in Southampton, Bristol and
Bath. Returning home from her latest
trip to the Royal United Hospital, Bath
she was making slow progress though
still undergoing investigations and
various corrective procedures. Such
was her determination to recover, even at this time she was entering print
competitions at Trowbridge Camera Club.
I'd known her since September 1985 when joining Trowbridge Camera Club
and found her to be friendly, helpful and, in particular, very creative and
innovative in the field of audio-visual production and presentation, enthusing
me and many others to become involved. As chairman for the last few years
she enthused the committee and membership in their achievements and could
always be relied upon to give impromptu presentations, being a whiz at
Photoshop, even conducting numerous sessions at home to anyone in need
of assistance.
For many it will be her incredible sense of humour and fun that will be the
fondest memory. She never lost the ability to laugh at herself, even when very
ill she was able to see the funny side of life; her eyes would twinkle and a
knowing grin would appear on her face. In April 2012 Valerie was intimately
involved in celebrating the club's 70th anniversary by organizing a dinner at
the Leigh Park Hotel, Bradford on Avon just prior to the onset of her illness.
An audio-visual sequence of the event, with a script specifically worded for
the members present is under production by which our Valerie and other past
members will be fondly remembered.
Gaining the awards of FRPS and DPAGB for her audio-visual work,Valerie
became respected and recognized both Nationally and Internationally for her
sequences and was a regular participant in the annual International AV
Competition at Cirencester