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About Ruth
Ruth Catherine Morrison was born on Thursday 26th August 1954, the second daughter of Robert and Barbara Morrison who lived at Arthurlie Dive, Giffnock, Renfrewshire. Her father was a lecturer in architecture at what became Strathclyde University and her mother had been a biochemist, a career she returned to at Glasgow Royal Infirmary when their children became older.
Ruth had a happy childhood with her parents, older sister, Susan, and younger brother, Peter. Martin was a later addition to the family. Ruth often spoke of her childhood memories such as playing on the railway embankment at the foot of their garden, visiting family and long summer holidays, camping on the North-west coast of Scotland and from 1972 on the Isle of Lewis.
Ruth's sister, Susan, recalls her memories for her younger sister, Ruth:
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When Ruth was born in 1954, I was not quite two years old. My earliest memory is going with our father to visit her for the first time at Rottenrow Maternity Hospital in Glasgow. I proudly told everyone about my Baby Sis.
While we were children, 2 years was a HUGE age gap and I didn't always want my little sister trailing along. But Ruth was her own woman from a very early age. Confident in what she wanted to do and capable of doing anything she wanted.
Ruth was always much better than me at going with the flow when it suited her and staying out of the way when necessary. Peter and I were the ones that pushed the boundaries and got into trouble.
Family holidays, camping on the north west coast of Scotland, were where we really learnt about life. Our parents showed us the natural world - wild flowers, birds, fish, sea shells - things we just didn't see in Giffnock. It wasn't what our peers did for holidays, but we wouldn't have had it any other way.
Ruth's artistic talents shone through from a very early age - I can't ever remember a time when she wasn't better than me at art of any sort. But I really didn't mind, and because she was so good I became quite proud of her. She learnt her dressmaking skills from our mother - quickly becoming very skilled. When I finally left home to be married, Ruth made the bridesmaids' dresses.
The thing about a sister is you don't have to explain. You know where each other has come from, been through and why. Ruth was always there for me. She was the person I could tell things that I couldn't say to anyone else. And I still do.
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