A gate valve (10) is provided and comprises: a valve body (12,14) including an aperture (20, 22); a gate (42) reciprocally movable within the body between a first position in which the aperture is occluded to a second position in which the aperture is open; a bearing member (36a, 36b) over which the gate moves in the body; and a loading member (30a, 30b) for urging the bearing member against the gate. The loading member comprises a lattice-like elastomeric mat (30a, 30b).