Valerie Georgina Howarth, Baroness Howarth of Breckland, OBE (born 5 September 1940) was born and grew up on Buchanan Rd, and took the title of "Baroness of Parson Cross in the County of South Yorkshire" when she was made a life peer in 2001. She attended Southey School until the age of 11 when she transferred to the Girls High School at Abbeydale Grange. She was Head of Social Services for Brent Council and later worked alongside Esther Rantzen as Director of Childline