Valerie Strachan

Dame Valerie Patricia Marie Strachan, (née Nicholls; born 10 January 1940) is a retired British civil servant. From 1993 to 2000, she was Chair of HM Customs and Excise. Since February 2012, she has been a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission.

Early life and education Strachan was born on 10 January 1940 to John Jonas Nicholls and Louise Nicholls.

She was educated at Newland High School, an all-girls state secondary school in Hull, Yorkshire.

Career As a junior civil servant, worked in a number of departments: she first joined HM Customs and Excise in 1961, then moved to the Department of Economic Affairs in 1964, and then worked at the Home Office in 1966.

Having retired from the Civil Service in 2000, Strachan has led an active retirement. From 2001 to 2002, she was a Lay Assessor on the Leggatt Inquiry, which led to the creation of the Tribunals Service.

Personal life In 1965, Valerie Nicholls married John Strachan. Together, they have two children; one son and one daughter. In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB), and therefore granted the title Dame, in recognition of her service as chairman of the board of HM Customs and Excise.

In 1995, Strachan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree by the University of Manchester, her alma mater.