Val Williams celebrates his birthday today! Costa News Spain

Valerie Williams, a cornerstone of the Costa del Sol, celebrates her birthday with friends on Friday, February 21, because friendship is what Val stands for.

Val, originally from Bryn-Crug in Gwynedd in Wales, has lived in Costa del Sol ever since 1985, when she retired from her hotel and restaurant career.

She learned early that hard work, determination and perseverance pay off.

In Mijas she realized that her life is about helping others, bringing them together, and getting them back up on their feet. She also realised that money wasn’t what brought her happiness, ‘but friends, time, caring about people, sharing, and helping the community are far more important than a high bank balance and working 15 hours a day,’ she said.

She started at the Salón Varietés with the Friends of the Theatre Association group, gaining a thousand friends and arranging all sorts of events, culminating in the theatre’s 30th anniversary at the Mijas Auditorium.

During the pandemic, along with Alan Boardman, they together managed to raise €60,000 for charities, something that concreted her priorities in friendship and supporting benevolent causes. Val recently reflected that ‘friends are vitally important, and loneliness should be avoided at all levels. It is important to avoid arguments. Friendship, enjoyment, and time are all important. Everyone should care about their community.

Our Val will be celebrating her birthday on Friday, February 21, at La Sierra, Cerrado del Águila golf club.