She was one of 9 children born to Helena (nee Hutchinson) and John Thompson and the family lived in a tiny cottage at Pilley Hill and then moved to Holroyd’s Yard which by coincidence many years later became the home of the man she was to marry.

Sadly only 6 of the children survived infancy and her siblings who she remained close to throughout her life, were Myra, Annie, George, Edna and Mary and the family was brought up at Silver Street, her dad was hard working at Dodworth Pit, a much-needed occupation during the war and therefore he would not have been called up to serve, but life would have been very difficult for the family, as Ruth was born right in the middle of World War One.

Family was always so important to Ruth, and along with her siblings they all attended Keresforth Road School and in her class was a young boy named Edgar Hamby, little did she know then that they would marry and spend many happy years bringing up their own family.

 Sadly, Ruth was the last of the original “Thompson” generation as she has outlived all her siblings and we know that her belief was always that one day they would be reunited once more, and we firmly hope and pray that for her.

Her future husband Edgar, also worked at Dodworth Pit. She always proudly recalled that her husband worked his way up the career ladder to become a Senior Overman at the Pit and as he was in a protected occupation during the war, he was not called up to serve, so he joined the Police Force as a part-time Special and remained so up to his death..

Ruth started work at the Barnsley Canister Company locally known as the Tin Oyle. Ruth described her new boyfriend to her workmates saying his name was Eddie” as she thought it had a much more “modern ring to it” than Edgar. Most of her friends did not actually find out his real name until they attended their wedding in 1940

Again these were difficult years as Britain was once again in the midst of World War 2 and she recalled the night before her wedding the German Bombs raining down on Sheffield, could clearly be heard from her window.

One of Ruth’s favourite stories was when her younger sister started work with her at the Tin Oyle. They both used to cycle to and from work and on this particular day as they were going down the steep hill home, Edna’s brakes failed, and she hit the window of the shop at the top of Silver Street. The shopkeeper a Mrs Hufton came out and said Ruth, can you ask your Edna to come thru the door like everybody else.

After their marriage they moved in with her aunt and uncle on Barnsley Road before starting their own family at 3 Higham Lane at the Toll Bar and here their 3 children were born, Carol, Steven and Stuart.

Ruth was always a very protective mum and very proud of her family, she would sing their praises from the rooftops and often; as all the family know – she and her sister Mary who also remained in Dodworth would get into many a heated conversation about whose children had the most academic or sporting achievements and of course Ruth always proclaimed it was her children.

Their only daughter Carol joined the Women’s Royal Airforce before leaving to join the police. She was proud to tell everyone that her daughter and future husband Brian who was in the Scots Guards met when performing at the Edinburgh Tattoo and also at Earls Court, and that Brian was the chosen Soldier to Drum In the Colour before the Queen at the Trooping of the Colour. Ruth and the family always watched these events on TV together especially when Brian appeared on the Royal Command performance backing Kenneth McKellar and Andy Stewart. When Carol and Brian had their daughter Linda a first granddaughter for Ruth, she was over the moon and so looked forward to their visits.

Her sons Steven and Stuart had their own successful careers, and she was proud of them both and she was blessed with more grandchildren, Steven and Lynda had Clare and James, Stuart and Susan had twins Eleanor and Laura. Her legacy continues on through her great grandchildren too, Ross and Robyn, Elly and Eve and although she  didn’t get to know the three youngest Maddie, Ronnie and Harry but she would have loved them just as much as the others.

Steven tells me that mum was strict at home – as all mums were of her generation, she was never afraid to discipline them and as their dad suffered most of his adult life with Rheumatoid Arthritis, their mum was the one who ruled the roost. But they knew how much she loved them and worked so hard for them all so that they had a loving childhood and a happy home.

Ruth passed her driving test at 45 – surprisingly for the first time! As it was not unheard of for her lessons – taught by husband Edgar – to result in shall we say incidents .  On one occasion Edgar had to go and build the steps back up at a house in Cawthorne after Ruth had crashed into the house whilst on a driving lesson.

 Sadly tragedy was to strike in Ruth’s life, her husband Edgar passed away in 1969 at just 53 years of age and her much loved daughter Carol, died In 1975 at just 32 years of age both devastating all the family.

 Edgar had been a regular churchgoer in his youth and all their children attended church, Ruth didn’t attend but always believed in God and that there would be a time when they would all be reunited.

Ruth has lived a good life, she was never a person that moaned or felt sorry for herself, she was always remained strong for her two boys, despite the tragedy of losing the two people in their lives that were so very special to them all, and she retained her dignity at all times, even going back out to work to support her family, with a part time job as a Dinner Lady at Keresforth Road School – where Steven and Stuart recall that she would often bring home the left over lunches for their meals.

 Ruth would never go out without her hair done and her lipstick on, standards she said were everything and she was a strikingly attractive lady who attracted many suitors and despite her not showing any interest in any of the local men, the boys recall that their house was always filled with fresh flowers from the miners’ allotments as they attempted to court her affections.

 But her husband Edgar was always her one true love. Some years later she did meet her good friend Stan who became her companion,  they had wonderful times together going on holiday and sharing their passion for ballroom dancing usually at Wortley Hall where they were members, it was very upsetting for Ruth when Stan sadly passed away, but she always remained true to Edgar’s memory and went to great pains to let her family know that the holidays and times shared together were as the best of friends only.

Through Edgars association with the Police;  Ruth was a member of the Police Wives section and with this group who remained great friends she kept herself occupied by going on outings to places of interest, theatres and concerts and would meet up for regular Beetle drives at the homes of the other police wives and was one of the first in the family to fly, going over to see the Dutch Flower Fields.

Ruth has had a very full and interesting social life, she was more of a social drinker, and her favourite tipple was always a Gold Label Barley Wine, but if you asked her if she liked a drink??? her reply would be “I don’t drink…well just enough to wet my lips” before proceeding to down three or four of this favourite tipple.

 Ruth made friends very easily and was well liked, most days she would get on a bus to surrounding towns do a bit of shopping and then calling at a local cafe for food and drink  where with the other regulars  put the world to rights and of course Ruth would be singing the praises of her children and their achievements as always.

At the age of 60 she began a new career as the “Old Folks Warden” – ironic really, as the people she was looking in on where near to her own age – but she checked on them daily and made sure they were ok. One of her jobs was to phone for a Doctor when one was needed, at that time having a phone in the house was not commonplace, and we smile when we recalled that before any phone call was made Ruth would smarten herself up and put her lipstick on and always rang with her “telephone voice” on.

Ruth remained her resilient and independent self though and continued well into her 80’s going on many coach trips and outings and as a “single lady” was often sat on the same table as the coach driver hoping he could dance, this gave her a dance partner for the entire holiday, she loved to dance all her life.