Since April 2000, Valerie Offord has edited no less than nineteen editions of this Journal with professionalism, sound judgement and enormous patience. She has had to cope with thousands of emails, faxes and telephone calls: moreover, with her internet skills and the endurance to sit in front of a computer screen for hours on end, her work was not carried out in Oxford or London, but in Geneva. Tyndale could never have imagined how one day Tyndalians all over the world could transmit scholarship and opinions (largely concerning his life) in fractions of a second with not a bale of wool in sight and without a moment’s fear of having their words blocked or deleted by agents with malicious intent.

Valerie travelled widely and reported on many conferences and events, from San Diego in California, to Lichfield in Staffordshire. As a fire alarm rang she once had to flee from a hotel room clutching data and manuscripts for a forthcoming edition. She explained: ‘Proof reading is very time consuming even though it can be done in unlikely places such as trains, tennis clubs, mountain chalets and airports.’ She had faithful contributors, and then promises from so many others. Often she would be told that the article would be emailed tomorrow… or perhaps the next day… or week… or month! Who would be an Editor!

When controversial articles were sent to her, Valerie would print them and invite members to respond. They soon did, and their replies were published as well. She was always open with contributors and would forward comments and criticisms to authors of the original pieces for frank debate. She completely understood how the Journal exists not only to report on events and new academic research, but just as importantly to keep members in touch.