Ruddle, Valerie Anne

Composer

b Gt Maplestead nr Halstead, Essex 1932. Royal Academy of Music and GRSM; music teacher in secondary schools (mainly before marriage) in Scunthorpe, Stourbridge and the Caribbean, and for the past 25 years actively involved in the Methodist Ch Music Soc, Hymn Soc, choir-directing and leading ‘Music in Worship’ workshops. Lives at Sevenoaks, Kent, where she belongs to The Drive Methodist Ch and describes herself as ‘an enabler’, encouraging people of all ages to discover musical and other creative talents for use in worship. Her first (and so far most popular) hymn tune of many was STEWARDSHIP, in Partners in Praise 1979; she also composed BRING YOUR CHRISTINGLE for the text she wrote jointly with William Horton (1990). She is the author of a monograph on Basil Harwood, and a series of booklets about the tune-names in Hymns and Psalms. She served for many years on the Hymn Soc committee, with a key role in organising its conferences and welcoming new members. One of her hobbies is collecting postcards connected with hymns. (Mis-spelt ‘Valery’ in some edns of Praise!) No.351.