Remembering Val

22/09/43 to 08/08/09


Memories from close friends

Valerie was a fan of Sci Fi from a young age, she poured over the likes of Isaac Asimov, H. G . Wells, Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, wrote for many fanzines and literary publications; however, did not start writing her own novels until much later. David Bowie was a constant theme throughout her writings, the recently deceased star's individuality and failure to conform was among Valerie's qualities, and I think that their minds both stretched into the farthest reaches of the universe to pull inspiration and shape it into something new and exciting.

Valerie's obsession was fueled by attending conventions with like minded individuals; and some fond memories of those are listed below from those she had met and maintained friendships with:

Marion Linwood

In 1962 I enrolled for my first Science Fiction convention at Harrogate when I was 20. My father said he would drive me there from Salisbury as he had a sister in Northallerton he could visit. The convention committee wrote and asked me if I could share a room with another girl (aged 18) who lived in Gosport. My Dad liked the idea of sharing a room with a girl as there would be less “evil temptations” and suggested that Val came to Salisbury where she would than get a lift to the con.

I wrote to Val and gave her directions to our house from Salisbury Station and the next day we went off to Harrogate. The convention was a big adventure for both of us and we were quite nervous – staying in a hotel and meeting people for the first time whom we had only known from letters and fanzines. I was glad to have another girl to go around with, both wearing large convention badges American style. I remember our first breakfast – we had a choice of grapefruit juice or tomato juice. Jimmy Groves, the editor of the magazine Vector, came and sat next to us – straight away a new friend. Val refused to be impressed and chattered away to him quite happily. I was impressed being near SF authors while Val was more open and friendly with them. She was nice to the London fan, Brian Burgess, whom I was a little scared of – he was very large and eccentric and wandered around the hotel at night selling pork pies.

Brian Burgess at Harrogate

Like Val I’m 5’8” with dark hair. In 1962, my hair was growing out of a very curly perm but Val had a bee-hive hair style much more al la mode. She dressed in her own style and liked white cardigans. In letters she often called herself “Vampira” after the TV character and I think she would have been a Goth if they were around then. At the con we both giggled a lot and had an incredible time – it was very hard to say goodbye to her and return to normal life. 

 

Val (left) in a corridor party at Peterborough (Archie right)

After the Peterborough Convention Archie Mercer wrote of her:

Val is rather a striking hybrid. To describe her in a nutshell (if she’d fit) one could almost say that a cosmetic face hides a cosmic mind. Outwardly, she every bit the typical late-teenage femme fatale such as one sees on every street corner any week-end. Once one gets talking to her however it soon becomes apparent that she’s anything but – it’s just that for some reason (possibly protective coloration) she likes to look one. Her face may not be her own; her mind certainly is  her own.

Anyway, she’s attended two Cons in succession now. If only somebody could get her interested in fanzines, she could easily prove a Very Good Thing.

Archie Mercer Les Spinge 11, June 1963.

…to which Val replied: 

Ah! Fandom and religion. I’ve just read some juicy facts about the beginnings of the church, from theAncient Greeks through to modern man.    And I’ve also taken a great delight, nay, a malicious delight in relating some of these facts to my staunch Christian workmates. Needless to say, they didn’t take kindly to my besmirching their ‘pure’ churches and invariably exploded into wrathful denials. You know, taking a look at these God-fearing people, who obviously believe in God and what the churches care to tell them, makes me come to one conclusion (with a few exceptions, of, course.) Namely, that ignorance bred religion, and religion breeds ignorance. Which hasn’t got much to do with the Leon Collins article.

Oh, Archie! Are you implying that I use too much makeup? Shame on you, you make me sound like an overdressed tart hiding under layers of cake makeup. I deeply resent this. Nobody complains about my make­-up where I come from. Would you rather us females walked around with shiny scrubbed faces? Perish the thought! If we did, you men would be the first to complain, believe me.

Besides, you men are just as bad. What about all those girdles, padded shoulders, perfumed hair creams, perfumed shaving lotions, permanent waves, talcum powders, deodorants and various etc. Not that I object to men using deodorants, more of them should.

As for ‘protective colouration’, yes, maybe so, but being very psychological this is too lengthy to argue about here. Be something to talk about at the next con. Anyway, Archie, you deserve congratulations on being the first male to admit that I have a mind of my own. Thanks, a great morale booster this.

Les Spinge 12, January 1964.

Jim Linwood

Val contacted me in 1961 through an advert in New Worlds magazine for the Young Science Fiction Readers Group (YSFRG). She attended the Harrogate 1962 and Peterborough 1963 SF conventions. Of the latter she recalled a certain wild element letting off fire extinguishers down a skylight and trying to see how many people would fit into a toilet cubicle with someone ending up with their foot stuck down the bowl. Authors Mike Moorcock and Lang Jones played noughts and crosses on her fishnet tights and took her up onto the roof for a pagan marriage ceremony.

 

Mike Moorcock at Peterborough

Marion Linwood

When Jim and I were living near Kew Gardens in 1967 Val dropped in to say hello from a coach trip and stayed several days. Our daughter, Eleanor was three; here’s a lovely photo of Val with Eleanor in Kew Gardens:

 Val Purnell

It was very hot weather and we spent the time laying around and chattering. She mentioned having met someone special. It was great seeing her again.

A lot of people come and go in one’s life – very few stay strong in your memory like Val.