Our friendship with Viv began over 50 years ago through our local golf club where graham was a member. In 1970 she became godmother to our eldest daughter Julie. Since that time we have been good friends regularly seeing each other - often trying to put the world to rights. Always good fun and stimulating.
Viv was a proud Mancunian believing very strongly in old fashioned values such as helping others, giving good service honesty, hard work and effort. She possessed a strong intellect, was very well read and had a natural ability to use the correct word or phrase in the right context. Such talent went some way to helping the ’Walton team’ complete the daily Guardian crossword.
She took particular interest in the children she taught especially those who were in great need. Like everything else in her life she always went the extra mile. Her commitment was always total. Her pupils were very lucky to have such a caring person as her for a teacher.
Politically she enjoyed debating current issues. She held strong views on what was right and wrong. Her erudite persuasive powers were always tempered with a good smattering of humour..
Looking back she loved visiting her friends and was passionate about their trips France and Aldeburgh. Yearly visits to. both places were essential.
A consumate knowledge of Manchester City football team emanated from the Guardian and offered fun debates with Graham who is a great admirer of Manchester United!
Viv and Graham enjoyed a long and successful marriage. They were a great support for each other and thoroughly loved living at Coot House with their very friendly and supportive neighbours.
She lived with her medical condition without fuss and great stoicism.
Viv was so very kind and thoughtful of others. We are all going to miss her.
Can I finally mention Keith. He has been a very helpful friend to both Viv and Graham in the last year. He has been so willing and available to help them.

Vivien has been my wonderful student of French for nearly twenty years. She would never come to the class unprepared, and we always enjoyed her magnificent contributions.
But she was more than a student and “classmate” to us, she was a valued friend, always eager to listen to us attentively and laugh with us wholeheartedly. I shall always remember her wonderfully bright eyes, full of wit and love of life.
She was such a great lover of all things French. I am writing these clumsy words in Dinard, next to and with a view on Saint Malo (Intra-Muros), one of her favourite places. She and Graham spent many happy days there. As you all know, one of Vivien’s passions was literature, so I hope it is apt to quote an extract from La Mer by François-René de Chateaubriand, one of its famous sons, buried at the Grand Bé tidal island – which you can see on the left of my picture taken today.
Merci mille fois, Vivien.
Prof Priscille

Mais quand le jour sur les vagues tremblantes
S’en va mourir ; quand, souriant encor,
Le vieux soleil glace de pourpre et d’or
Le vert changeant des mers étincelantes,
Dans des lointains fuyants et veloutés,
En enfonçant ma pensée et ma vue,
J’aime à créer des mondes enchantés
Baignés des eaux d’une mer inconnue.
L’ardent désir, des obstacles vainqueur,
Trouve, embellit des rives bocagères,
Des lieux de paix, des îles de bonheur,
Où, transporté par les douces chimères,
Je m’abandonne aux songes de mon coeur.

I first met Vivien through becoming friends with Graham when we worked together in the 1970's. A small group of us at the office recognised that we were kindred spirits and developed the habit of having lavish lunches together every few months. That later evolved into gatherings that included partners and ranged from lunches and dinner parties to days out (ah those wonderful days at Henley!!) and even occasional holidays. So began my friendship with Vivien........

Always when we met the lively conversation would cover everything from food and wine, books and films to politics. but especially politics. Vivien was passionate about many things but particularly about people and how our laws and society treat them. She not only championed communities at a local level who have been ignored or or ill treated by society but carried that concern into direct action on behalf of people known to her, whether it was helping them to deal with government agencies or simply teaching them as adults to read or write.

But in addition to her serious side I will always remember Vivien for her lively wit and humour. In recent times my wife Ros and I used to meet up with her and Graham during their annual summer holiday at Southwold. It was such a pleasure to join them for lunch and put the world to rights. Vivien was a delight to be with and her infectious humour would have us all laughing aloud before much time had passed.

And then there was Vivien's enduring love for Graham. Never did anyone have a more devoted life-long partner. Even when she became so ill herself Vivien's overwhelming concern was for Graham, indeed unto death. How fortunate he has been. As have we all to have shared even a small part of her life. We will miss her.

Wishing you peace at last dear friend, love always from Glyn and Ros Evans

Vivien was one of the loveliest ladies I’ve ever known: calm, caring and a delight to be with. The world, and especially Bells Lane, is a sadder place without her. I have added a video of Graham that I look soon after his stroke. He loved her, as we all did.

I knew Vivien and her husband Graham since our summer 1978 meeting in Paris. We stay in close touch since then. Vivien was a very good person, thinking about fairness and people who suffer. She was very socially conscious. She also followed politics and was interested in truth. We met over the years in Horton, London, Warszawa, Bronxville, Brooklyn and Chicago. Her presence, sincerity and caring made our lives worth living and less lonely. We loved Vivien and miss her dearly. We hope to meet her again at one point. Marek and Karolina

Vivien was an amazing person. She had an enormous intellect and was incredibly well-read. At the same time, she had a really grounded understanding of people and their problems; an empathy which led her to encourage and support others, whether they be simple acquaintances, her real friends or, of course, her pupils.
Vivien's passing has left a void in the lives of many people. She will be sorely missed - and never forgotten.