Ruby honoured for 60 years service

Ruby Gilham was honoured at St Peter's Church with the Mayor's Community Award - the very first of its kind.

It represented a special 'thank you' to Ruby who has worked for various good causes over the years.

Between 1940 and 1965 she took on many roles, including service in the WAAF, a job as a civil servant and work as a church missionary.

Ruby, who moved to Bexhill in 1967 to care for her elderly father and step mother, was soon throwing herself into a range of community activities.

An active member of St Peter's Church, she assisted with the choir amongst her many other duties and was a member of the organist and choirmaster group for Bexhill District, in which she served as honorary secretary and later president.

Later, Ruby worked tirelessly for residents at Yvonne Robertson House and took on roles for the North Bexhill Day Centre and the Pebsham Branch of the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital.

She is perhaps best known though, for being the appointed organiser of Bexhill Caring Community from 1975 to 1987.

Devoting the first 12 years of her retirement to the care of other elderly people, Ruby was willing to turn out at any time of the day or night to people who needed her.

As the Observer once said: "Many people think Ruby IS the Caring Community."

Reverend Olivia Werrett, hailed her as a "warm, caring person...she also has a special interest in young people, especially those who have had difficult periods. She always found time to ask after them, and to encourage and assure them of her continued care and ongoing prayers."

Town Mayor Stuart Earl added: "We didn't have a citizens award - this is the first and it is going to be put forward on the Charter Trustees next meeting that people can be recommended for it and then we will decide who it goes to.

"We have given this first award to Ruby for all the super things she has done for the community."