An actuated valve (19.1) comprising: a housing; an inlet leading into the housing; an outlet leading from the housing at a position spaced from the inlet; a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet in flow communication; a valve seat positioned in the flow path and comprising a frusto-conical portion having a wide end (48.2) and a longitudinally spaced narrow end (48.1); a guide portion extending away from the narrow end (48.1) of the frusto-conical portion coaxially therewith; a closure member; and a throttle element displaceable together with the closure member, and being inserted into the guide portion when the closure member is displaced towards its closed position, the throttle element including (i) a front portion, the cross-sectional area of which increases away from a leading end of the throttle element for at least part of the length thereof, (ii) a frusto-conical rear portion complementary in shape to the valve seat, and (iii) an intermediate portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion and being sufficiently long so that the intermediate portion enters the guide portion of the flow path before an elastomeric seal makes contact with the valve seat, wherein the closure member includes the elastomeric seal having a frusto-conical seal surface, the closure member and seal displaceable between a closed position, in which the frusto-conical seal surface abuts sealingly against the valve seat inhibiting the flow of medium through the flow path, and an open position permitting the flow of medium through the flow path, characterised in that the elastomeric seal is sandwiched between the throttle element and an annular retaining member and is positioned adjacent to and protruding radially beyond the rear portion of the throttle element such that the frusto-conical surface of the seal contacts the valve seat before the rear portion of the throttle element; and the valve (19.1) further comprising an axially extending stud bolt extending through both the annular retaining member and the throttle element and secured by a securing element on an end portion of the stud bolt to urge the throttle element and retaining member towards one another and thereby secure the elastomeric seal in position; wherein as the closure member is displaced from its open position towards its closed position the increasing diameter of the front portion of the throttle element progressively decreases the annular space between the throttle element and the guide portion thereby progressively decreasing the effective cross-section area of the flow path and hence progressively decreasing the flow rate of medium through the valve (19.1) to reduce shock loads. a housing; an inlet leading into the housing; an outlet leading from the housing at a position spaced from the inlet; a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet in flow communication; a valve seat positioned in the flow path and comprising a frusto-conical portion having a wide end (48.2) and a longitudinally spaced narrow end (48.1); a guide portion extending away from the narrow end (48.1) of the frusto-conical portion coaxially therewith; a closure member; and a throttle element displaceable together with the closure member, and being inserted into the guide portion when the closure member is displaced towards its closed position, the throttle element including (i) a front portion, the cross-sectional area of which increases away from a leading end of the throttle element for at least part of the length thereof, (ii) a frusto-conical rear portion complementary in shape to the valve seat, and (iii) an intermediate portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion and being sufficiently long so that the intermediate portion enters the guide portion of the flow path before an elastomeric seal makes contact with the valve seat, (i) a front portion, the cross-sectional area of which increases away from a leading end of the throttle element for at least part of the length thereof, (ii) a frusto-conical rear portion complementary in shape to the valve seat, and (iii) an intermediate portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion and being sufficiently long so that the intermediate portion enters the guide portion of the flow path before an elastomeric seal makes contact with the valve seat, wherein the closure member includes the elastomeric seal having a frusto-conical seal surface, the closure member and seal displaceable between a closed position, in which the frusto-conical seal surface abuts sealingly against the valve seat inhibiting the flow of medium through the flow path, and an open position permitting the flow of medium through the flow path, characterised in that the elastomeric seal is sandwiched between the throttle element and an annular retaining member and is positioned adjacent to and protruding radially beyond the rear portion of the throttle element such that the frusto-conical surface of the seal contacts the valve seat before the rear portion of the throttle element; and the valve (19.1) further comprising an axially extending stud bolt extending through both the annular retaining member and the throttle element and secured by a securing element on an end portion of the stud bolt to urge the throttle element and retaining member towards one another and thereby secure the elastomeric seal in position;