Ruth, who now lives in East Suffolk, joined 1st Theydon Bois when she was four and left when she was about 10. She is the author of four Isabella M Smugge novels, a Jane Austen-inspired book, and a book of poetry.
She says ‘Girls’ Brigade to me meant a place of freedom, learning and safety. I knew that the leaders wanted the best for me, and no-one would ever lose their temper or hurt me. I had new experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.’
Ruth remembers activities like running around playing games, working for badges, performing plays, and devotional times.
‘I have really good memories of my time in Girls’ Brigade,’ she says. ‘We met on a Friday and, although it wasn’t a large village, we had to walk across it so an older girl used to take me and my memory is of seeing the church all lit up. It felt a very safe place to me and the leaders were such kind people.
‘I became a Christian when I was 26 but the roots were put down by Girls’ Brigade. Girls’ Brigade was about developing your whole self and faith was at the heart of that.’
Ruth, who is also a freelance writer, wrote about a character called Isabella M Smugge in a blog post during lockdown in April 2020.
She says ‘Isabella is the opposite of me – rich, hugely successful but, as her name implies, she is very smug. There is a faith component to the books as Isabella meets people who attend church and starts to see how faith is lived out by real people with real problems.
‘It started as a blog post but the counts kept going up and people were commenting on it. I then got a message out of the blue from a publishers saying it would make a great novel and asking me to write sample chapters. I pitched these and later got a deal which launched my career as a novelist.’
You can find out more about Ruth and her books at her website.