Tributes paid to Harry Ruthven

Dec 4 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Perth’s most remarkable men.

Harry Ruthven, who went on to play an integral role in Fair City life over many decades after being captured at St Valery with 51st Highland Division comrades in June 1940, passed away at Perth Royal Infirmary on Wednesday. He was in his 90th year.

His funeral, conducted by Kinnoull minister, the Rev David Souter, will be held at Perth Crematorium on Tuesday at 12.30pm.

Harry, then 20 and a sergeant, was among thousands of Scots servicemen taken prisoner in the early months of the war. After a traumatic forced march to Poland, he survived years in a German prison camp. His Stalag identity tag went everywhere with him as a poignant reminder of those “wasted years” and the sacrifices made by close friends.

On returning to civvy street in 1945, weighing just six stone, Harry was determined to make up for lost time.

He married his wife Joan and threw himself into the business and social life of his beloved Perth.

Provost John Hulbert led the tributes to a remarkable son of the Fair City.

He said: “In many ways Harry’s passing marks the end of a era. He was one of the few survivors of St Valery and went on to become an extraordinary asset to Perth and play a role in so many aspects of city life.

“Harry was part of a special generation. He never forgot the war years or lost comrades. Those dreadful experiences in a prisoner-of-war camp, where he was one of the Jocks rather than the officer class, shaped the rest of his life.

“He learned German to negotiate with the guards and those leadership qualities were apparent when he returned to Perth.

“Harry was the first non-provost to become chairman of Bowerswell Homes, the city’s war memorial. We last spoke at the Remembrance Day service. That was a very important part of his life but Harry played a role in so many organisations over the years.”

His enduring commitment to the Bowerswell war memorial and retirement home, as chairman and treasurer, included overseeing the creation of ground-breaking sheltered housing within the grounds and welcoming Princess Margaret to the Kinnoull property in 1996.

In 2000, Harry’s unique contribution to Perth was recognised by the David K. Thomson Award.

For 30 years Harry, the one-time Balhousie educated message boy who went on to become managing director of wholesale grocers J. McNab of Perth, was president, secretary and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce in an era when no goods, including Bell’s and Dewar’s whisky, could leave the Fair City without his signature on an export licence.

His wife Joan, who passed away in August, was always by his side. They married after the war and she was his long-time assistant at the Chamber.

A past president of Perth Rotary Club, at one stage boasting a remarkable 100% attendance record over more than a decade, Harry was also immensely proud to have been the city’s oldest High Constable. He was a regular face at the society’s annual dinners.

Harry’s interest in his fellow citizens was witnessed in his capacity as a founder member of the Perth Citizens Advice Bureau, a Perth Festival of the Arts committee member, service with Employment for the Disabled and the local crime prevention panel.

In his later years he enjoyed walking and gardening. But Harry’s diverse sporting interests were reflected by his youthful football career with Perth Celtic and St Johnstone YM, long-time membership of Perth Bowling Club and influential administrative roles in curling, with his Muirfield home littered with trophies gathered on the ice with Perth Curling Club and the Rotary International Curling Fellowship.

Harry is survived by daughters Barbara and Lesley, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.