Ruth Grayer (Robinson) 1941-2022

Ruth Grayer was the youngest of the three Robinson sisters, Thelma, Stella and Ruth, who attended The Lady Eleanor Holles School between 1942 and 1958. Ruth started in Lower Prep in the Junior School in September 1947, when she was nearly six years old. 

She cycled to school on her fairy cycle with Stella from their Hampton home to the Senior School in Hanworth Road. Here they were allowed to leave their bikes and walk across the field to the Junior School in Uxbridge Road.  Each day they would meet senior staff coming in the opposite direction, notably Miss Davis, Miss Patterson and Miss Deny.

Ruth enjoyed school taking an active part in a range of activities including drama and the sports teams. If you are logged into your Holles Connect account you can see a photo of Ruth in her Junior School uniform below.

After O levels, Ruth stayed on at school for a year in the Sixth Form before moving on to Cripplegate Secretarial College. She subsequently worked for the Conservative Central Office, and later locally for Bench’s Advertising Agency and Rivercraft Boat Builders.  During this time, she played hockey for Hampton and Sunbury.

She met her husband Roger Grayer, an Old Blue (Christ’s Hospital Alumni) and civil engineer, through the Hampton Young Conservative Society.  They married in 1964 and lived in Teddington, where Susan was born in 1967 and Simon in1970.  They moved to Thorpe in 1974 and settled into village life.

Ruth kept up her sporting interests and became Lady Captain of Laleham Golf Club.  She was always a keen swimmer and loved swimming in the sea.  She kept in touch with school friends and attended Holly Club meetings until her latter years.

Unfortunately, Ruth suffered with dementia which progressed after the loss of Roger and she spent the last couple of years being cared for at Sunrise in Virginia Water, where she sadly passed away on the 7th December, 2022 aged 81 years.  She is much missed by her family and friends.  Stella (84 years) is now the only surviving sister as Thelma sadly passed away aged 53 in 1988.