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| Disposable nappy inventor Valerie Hunter Gordon dies aged 94 | Disposable nappy inventor Valerie Hunter Gordon dies aged 94 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The mother-of-six who invented the disposable nappy has died at her home near Inverness aged 94. | |
| Valerie Hunter Gordon's family said she died on 16 October in Beauly. | |
| She created the first "Paddi" after having her third child, Nigel, in 1947 and becoming fed-up with washing traditional nappies. | She created the first "Paddi" after having her third child, Nigel, in 1947 and becoming fed-up with washing traditional nappies. |
| The two-part garments were initially made out of old nylon parachutes, tissue wadding and cotton wool. | The two-part garments were initially made out of old nylon parachutes, tissue wadding and cotton wool. |
| Mrs Hunter Gordon made hundreds of the nappies using a sewing machine at her kitchen table, supplying friends with the product and constantly modifying the design. | Mrs Hunter Gordon made hundreds of the nappies using a sewing machine at her kitchen table, supplying friends with the product and constantly modifying the design. |
| Her husband, Major Pat Hunter Gordon, was also pressed into helping make the nappies when he returned from fighting in Borneo. | Her husband, Major Pat Hunter Gordon, was also pressed into helping make the nappies when he returned from fighting in Borneo. |
| They applied for a patent in 1948 and signed an agreement with Robinsons to manufacture the nappies in 1949. The first nappies were modelled by her son, Nigel. | They applied for a patent in 1948 and signed an agreement with Robinsons to manufacture the nappies in 1949. The first nappies were modelled by her son, Nigel. |
| Possible names for the product included Valette, Snappy, Napkins, Lavnets and Drypad. The name Paddi was chosen after a meeting between Major Hunter Gordon and a group of senior executive Army officers at The Army Staff College in Surrey, according to the Paddi website. | Possible names for the product included Valette, Snappy, Napkins, Lavnets and Drypad. The name Paddi was chosen after a meeting between Major Hunter Gordon and a group of senior executive Army officers at The Army Staff College in Surrey, according to the Paddi website. |
| At first, there was resistance to the nappies from doctors, who thought it would harm babies' skin, and a general public not used to throwing things away in the post-war years. | At first, there was resistance to the nappies from doctors, who thought it would harm babies' skin, and a general public not used to throwing things away in the post-war years. |
| However, an article in Lancet written by an Army doctor who used Paddis for his baby helped change medical opinion and they began to be stocked by Boots. | However, an article in Lancet written by an Army doctor who used Paddis for his baby helped change medical opinion and they began to be stocked by Boots. |
| The company eventually went into decline in the 1960s, with the arrival of the American brand Pampers. | The company eventually went into decline in the 1960s, with the arrival of the American brand Pampers. |
| Mrs Hunter Gordon's daughter, Frances Ross, said her mother had been survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, with another due in a few months. | Mrs Hunter Gordon's daughter, Frances Ross, said her mother had been survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, with another due in a few months. |