A viscous clutch comprising: an input member to accept input torque; a rotor secured to the input member to rotate therewith; an output member located adjacent to the rotor; a working chamber defined between the rotor and the output member; a reservoir configured to hold a shear fluid; a return path defined between the working chamber and the reservoir; an electromagnetic coil for selectively generating a magnetic field; and a valve assembly configured to selectively control shear fluid flow between the reservoir and the working chamber, the valve assembly comprising: an orifice plate defining a bore to allow the passage of the shear fluid through the orifice plate; a reed valve, the reed valve including: a tongue portion configured to selectively cover the bore of the orifice plate; and a first pivot location along the tongue portion about which a distal end of the tongue portion can pivot; an armature comprising a magnetic flux-conducting material, the armature configured to selectively apply a force to the reed valve as a function of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil to pivot at least the distal end of the tongue portion about the first pivot location; an anchor spring secured to the armature; and characterized in that said viscous clutch is further comprising a stiffening plate, wherein a second pivot location is defined along the anchor spring at an edge of the stiffening plate, and wherein the first and second pivot locations are spaced from each other, and wherein the reed valve is secured relative to the orifice plate. an input member to accept input torque; a rotor secured to the input member to rotate therewith; an output member located adjacent to the rotor; a working chamber defined between the rotor and the output member; a reservoir configured to hold a shear fluid; a return path defined between the working chamber and the reservoir; an electromagnetic coil for selectively generating a magnetic field; and a valve assembly configured to selectively control shear fluid flow between the reservoir and the working chamber, the valve assembly comprising: an orifice plate defining a bore to allow the passage of the shear fluid through the orifice plate; a reed valve, the reed valve including: a tongue portion configured to selectively cover the bore of the orifice plate; and a first pivot location along the tongue portion about which a distal end of the tongue portion can pivot; an armature comprising a magnetic flux-conducting material, the armature configured to selectively apply a force to the reed valve as a function of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil to pivot at least the distal end of the tongue portion about the first pivot location; an anchor spring secured to the armature; and characterized in that said viscous clutch is further comprising a stiffening plate, wherein a second pivot location is defined along the anchor spring at an edge of the stiffening plate, and wherein the first and second pivot locations are spaced from each other, and wherein the reed valve is secured relative to the orifice plate. an orifice plate defining a bore to allow the passage of the shear fluid through the orifice plate; a reed valve, the reed valve including: a tongue portion configured to selectively cover the bore of the orifice plate; and a first pivot location along the tongue portion about which a distal end of the tongue portion can pivot; a tongue portion configured to selectively cover the bore of the orifice plate; and a first pivot location along the tongue portion about which a distal end of the tongue portion can pivot; an armature comprising a magnetic flux-conducting material, the armature configured to selectively apply a force to the reed valve as a function of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil to pivot at least the distal end of the tongue portion about the first pivot location; an anchor spring secured to the armature; and characterized in that said viscous clutch is further comprising a stiffening plate, wherein a second pivot location is defined along the anchor spring at an edge of the stiffening plate, and wherein the first and second pivot locations are spaced from each other, and wherein the reed valve is secured relative to the orifice plate.