March 2010 - Val Oldaker - Eulogy

Apologies for not posting this earlier. As you may know, Val Oldaker sadly died in January after being diagnosed with cancer in December. Val revitalised SevernLETS when she moved to Shrewsbury 6 years ago and was involved with many other local groups. Below is a eulogy to Val.smallval_edited-1


"Val Oldaker, the well known local environmentalist and campaigner has died after a short battle with cancer. She moved with her husband Frank to Shrewsbury six years ago and immediately she immersed herself in all things ‘green’. This was not a new interest as she had previously campaigned on a number of green issues but sequential careers as a dietition, management accountant, I.T. specialist and teacher had given her little time to be very active in the environmental movement.

Before moving to Shrewsbury, she had her name down for an allotment and soon became secretary for the Column Allotments. Keen to improve the site for members, she obtained a lottery grant for a meeting room, composting toilet and more machinery. This was shortly followed by another successful application for funds for an on-site shop and generally making the site an even more enjoyable place for members. She also then instigated opening the allotments to the public on Shrewsbury Heritage Weekends.

Her love of growing vegetables led her to becoming very busy in the Shropshire Organic Gardeners Society (SOGS). A few years as programme secretary, involvement in the design of the award- winning outdoor gardens at the Shrewsbury Flower Show and especially organising the ‘Potato Day’ at Nesscliffe Village Hall each year gave her and others great pleasure and satisfaction. She started work on this years’ ‘Potato day’ which is to be held on 6th February, but had to hand over when the seriousness of her illness was fully realised.

Many other connected activities were pursued with great energy including introducing worm composting into nursery schools through ‘The Darwins’ Worm Project’ funded by the Darwin Community Arts Fund and promoted by The Wildlife Trust. Val was also the driving force for the creation of a vegetable garden at Coleham School. Perhaps her work as a ‘Master Composter’ promoting the benefits of home composting gave her the greatest satisfaction. This is a national Initiative and she worked very hard to build up an enthusiastic team of people in Shropshire. At the Annual National Conference a couple of years ago, her efforts were recognised when she won the individual award for making the greatest contribution to the initiative. Her overall ‘green’ activities were also recognised when together with her husband, they won the Shropshire Star award as the ‘Greenest Family’.

Many local people have got to know her through her actions as Coordinator of Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth. She organised the Group, taking part in national FOE campaigns as well as fighting local proposals such as the incinerator at Battlefield and the North West Relief Road.

Involvement in Friends of the Earth led her to sitting on various liaison groups and committees. Although she saw campaigning as vital if we are to address the environmental issues facing us all, Val seemed happiest teaching nursery children how important worms are or talking enthusiastically about organic gardening and especially composting.

She also thoroughly enjoyed singing as a member of a local choir. When she found out her illness was terminal she was as pragmatic as ever, she was sad at leaving a happy life in a town she had come to love and sad at not being able to carry on with environmental interests. She was content that there are lots of other people who will be active and carry on the work. However, all that met her found out that she was a rare person, with a clarity of thought, with integrity and a tremendous drive that meant she achieved more than most. She will be missed."