Vivienne Hunter (1955–2010)

Viv came to work at FRAME in April, 1986, as Publications Secretary. She proved to be a brilliant technical sub-editor and an excellent proofreader, and she played a crucial role in ensuring that FRAME’s journal, ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals), maintained its very high production standards, and that each issue was published on time.

She was the journal’s Editorial Assistant from 1987 to 1999, Assistant Editor from 2000 to 2005, and Production Editor from 2000 to 2006. She was also Editor for 21 issues of our newsletter, FRAME News.

 The period between 1987 and 1994 was marked by a particularly memorable working relationship between Viv, Gilly Griffin (as Managing Editor), Tony Marson (our typesetter, who also arranged our printing), and me (as Editor), during which many technical changes were made, resulting in the journal as it is today. When Gilly emigrated to Canada in 1994, we had a series of young Assistant Editors, who were rigorously trained by Viv and later went on to higher things. Subsequently, she also worked effectively with a series of experienced Production Editors.

Throughout her time at FRAME, Viv’s health steadily deteriorated, as a result of progressively severe arthritis. She was given all the available drugs, and had a very demanding series of spinal operations, bone grafts and vertebral fusions, often accompanied by long-term infections. 

Despite the fact that she suffered long periods of constant pain, I never heard Viv complain, and she always had a beautiful smile. However, by 2005 she had become too ill to come to work, and had to embark on yet another series of intricate operations. She died on 12 November 2010, as a result of complications arising from her latest spinal surgery.

Viv and I shared the hope that she would one day be well enough to work again for FRAME, in one capacity or another. In a message to me dated 8 January 2007, she said “Don’t forget me!” — I never did, and I never will.

Michael Balls
Editor of ATLA

Archived 5/1/11