Val graduated from Swansea University, in her native Wales, in 1969, and took up a position as a microbiologist with Glaxo Laboratories in Cumbria. Having worked there for 3 years, Val came to London, initially undertaking voluntary work at Blackfriars Settlement in North Southwark, as part of the Community Action Team . From there, she trained as Social Worker, and worked for the Social Services department at Hounslow Council for 10 years; both as a social worker and as a community worker. Having taken a break from employment to look after her child, Val re-entered employment as part of a co-operative venture running the Red and Green book shop in Acton, remaining there for 6 years. Val then re-trained to gain the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts qualification (intermediate level) and her return to employment saw her make a venture back into the private sector, working for AMVS, a commercial motor repairs company based in Park Royal and agency work in other private companies before securing a position with the peace charity, BASIC. She remained there for 4 years before leaving for an 8 year stint at North Kensington Law Centre, until retiring in 2007.

Val was an active union member - belonging to ASTMS , NALGO and UNITE -throughout the whole of her working life; and took part in a variety of community campaigns.

In this clip she describes setting up a cooperative bookshop called Red and Green which focused on socialist and environmental issues.

Click on the pdf icon to read the entire transcript or click on the mp3 icon to hear a clip of the interview.

Title	Kemball, Val
Maker	--
Production Date	2013
Format	Photograph
Copyright	--
Holding Institution	--
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