Valerie Ann Lye (6 Nov 1944 - 7 Nov 2019)

In loving memory of Valerie Ann Lye who sadly passed away on 7th November 2019, aged 75 years.

Born 6th November 1944, educated at St Faiths primary school and Mayfield Girls Grammar School before starting work for the Prudential Assurance Co.

She eloped to Edinburgh with husband John in 1962 where they lived for awhile, and Colin their eldest son was born there, moving back to London the following year with Roy being born shortly after.

They moved to Basingstoke in 1969 as part of the GLC overspill scheme. The 3 bedroom house in Popley was like a palace compared to the tiny flat they had in Putney.

Strangely one of the things that Valerie missed after the move from London was socialising with the mothers at the local parks, where they would take the children after school. So before too long she had found out about The National Association of Women’s Clubs and became a founder member of Abbey Ladies Club, in Popley.

It was just a short step from there to becoming the secretary of the Basingstoke Association of Women’s Clubs representing them at several of the Nation Conferences.

This was the beginning of a long “career” as a committee member with various organisations. It was not until 1979 when the boys were at 6th form college that she decided to return to full time employment and started work for Sony Broadcast as a clerk in the procurement department later moving into sales administration.

She worked there for 16 years until being made redundant in 1995 when the admin of the Middle East Sales Dept was moved to Dubai, by this time her and John had discovered their love of golf so Valerie chose to work only part time from then on until her eventual retirement in October 2012.

She was an active member of Weybrook Park Golf Club and also Ladies Captain in 2002.

After the death of her husband John in 2007 Valerie decided it was time to see more of the world, something they were always “going to get round to”. Some of the places she visited were Italy, Egypt, Morocco, Tenerife, Memphis, Andalusia and Boston, friends were always asking where she was off to next but there was always one place they could always find her when the music started to play and that was on the dance floor.

In 2017 she moved from her 3 bedroom house in Popley to live with her eldest son Colin and his young family. A household of 3 generations gave Valerie the opportunity to be a full time “Gran”. A role she clearly loved.

She will be sadly missed by many family and friends.