My childhood was full of Val. She was my eldest sister Anne’s best friend and was in and out of our house, Crabtree Farm, constantly. She lived up the road in Manley. We did plays together. When I had earache and couldn’t play the robin in Babes in the Wood, she played my part for me. Anne and Val rode their ponies together, attended camp at the local Pony Club, took lessons with Joyce Cammack, nee Thompson. Growing older Anne went to London and Val visited her regularly, going on holiday together when possible and, as Val became bi-polar, helping her find ways to keep a normal life. Sadly Anne died and Val became the looker-after of our sister’s memory, godmother to her twin boys Matthew and Christopher Poole, friend and confidante to the three remaining Toler sisters. Our mother had a luncheon club called the Old Trouts of which Val became a member, along with Joyce Cammack’s daughter Lesley, Ben Muir’s daughter Paula, Julia Midgley whose sister Gerry went to school with Val, and myself. Val had style. She knew about antiques, spoke French fluently and had amazing red hair. We will miss her.
Celia Toler, Pam Toler and Susan Toler, the Brotherhood family and the Poole family
Celia Toler
28/12/2022
