Resident reveals she’s a Violinist on her special day

At Redcot, the residential care home in Haslemere, Surrey, run by charity Friends of the Elderly, whilst celebrating her landmark 96^th Birthday, resident Ruth Dickson surprised the care team and her care home friends by revealing she was a Violinist.

Ruth, who moved to Redcot in November 2022, was born in North Wales but spent most of her childhood growing up in Herefordshire. During her school years at a boarding school in Wiltshire, Ruth says her favourite lesson was English.

Ruth said:

“I think the English classes were the best, as I really loved reading books – and still do.”

Ruth’s career saw her become the Principal at The School of Optics in Oxford.

Ruth continued:

“I loved my job. It was so rewarding.”

In 1953, Ruth married her Husband, Lennard, in Southampton, The happy couple became parents to Caroline and Robert, and Ruth is now a proud Grandmother to Nicholas and Jamie.

Ruth liked to keep active and enjoyed a game of tennis, as long as it was for fun and not taken too seriously. Ruth added:

“I loved walking and reading as well. I still adore reading and I like nothing more than sitting down with a good book in the sunshine in Redcot’s lovely grounds.”

However, Ruth is a lady of hidden talents. Whilst she was enjoying her delicious birthday tea with her care home friends, a reminiscing conversation topic turned into what hobbies and pastimes everyone enjoyed.

Ruth continued:

“When I said that I was a Violinist, my friends and the care team were quite shocked. I really enjoyed playing. It was not only relaxing but also entertained my family. It was good to reveal something nobody knew about me.”

Jan Daly, the Registered Manager at Redcot said:

“Ruth is full of surprises, she kept being a talented Violinist to herself. She thoroughly enjoyed surprising us all. Ruth is always taking part in our wide range of engaging and meaningful activities, and she’s a font of all knowledge as well. She’s exceptionally good at quizzes and always has a good book on the go.”

Ruth added:

“My birthday – 28^th August – is a day when many things throughout the years have happened. For example, in 1963, Martin Luther King gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. However, the year I was born – 1928 – saw some remarkable things too. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, bubble gum was invented, Mickey Mouse appeared for the first in Steamboat Willie and, women were granted equal voting rights to men. So, all in all, not a bad year.”

Jan added:

“It’s really great having Ruth live with us at Redcot. She’s a lovely lady who always has a kind word to say to everyone. We all wanted to make Ruth’s day as special as she is and show her just how much she means to us all.”

Ruth concluded:

“I’m very happy living at Redcot and have had a lovely birthday. Everyone here is so kind and so helpful. We were chatting the other day and I was asked what’s my secret to a long and happy life. I’d have to say don’t moan about things you can’t control, just get on with it and have no regrets. That’s stood me well over the years.”