Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy
Encyclopedia
Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy, DCVO
, OBE
, (2 October 1908 – 6 July 1993) was a friend and confidante of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the maternal grandmother of Lady Diana Spencer
, later Princess of Wales
.
Lady Fermoy was born Ruth Sylvia Gill at her father's house, Dalhebity, Bieldside
, Aberdeenshire
, the daughter of Colonel William Smith Gill and his wife Ruth (the daughter of David Littlejohn). She showed early promise as a pianist and studied under Alfred Cortot
at the Paris Conservatoire in the 1920s. Her musical career was cut short when she met, and later married in 1931, the wealthy and much older Edmund Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy. They had three children which included her younger daughter, Frances
. Lady Fermoy did play the piano in public occasionally after her marriage, most notably with Josef Krips
at the Royal Albert Hall
in 1950, and with Sir John Barbirolli
and the Hallé Orchestra at King's Lynn
in 1966. She founded the King's Lynn Festival in 1951 and remained closely involved with the Festival for 25 years, persuading Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to become its patron.
In 1956, the Queen Mother appointed Lady Fermoy an Extra Woman of the Bedchamber
. The Queen Mother, being a widow herself, showed a preference for appointing widows to her household, and four years later Ruth, Lady Fermoy, was promoted to Woman of the Bedchamber, a post she held for the next 33 years. The Queen Mother and Lady Fermoy became confidantes and it was largely supposed that they engineered the match between Charles, Prince of Wales
, and Lady Diana Spencer. However, when asked about it, Lady Fermoy remarked: "You can say that if you like – but it simply wouldn't be true". It was also said that she counselled her granddaughter against the marriage, saying "Darling, you must understand that their sense of humour and their lifestyle are different, and I don't think it will suit you." Lady Fermoy was a firm believer in the sanctity of marriage. In 1969, her daughter Frances and John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, were divorced. Lady Fermoy testified against Frances, allowing Lord Spencer to retain custody of his children.
Lady Fermoy died at her home, 36 Eaton Square
, London
, aged 84. It was reported that she was not on speaking terms with Diana when she died.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (2 October 1908 – 6 July 1993) was a friend and confidante of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the maternal grandmother of Lady Diana Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, later Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
.
Lady Fermoy was born Ruth Sylvia Gill at her father's house, Dalhebity, Bieldside
Bieldside
Bieldside is a suburb to the west of Aberdeen, Scotland, together with its neighbouring village of Cults. It has one pub/restaurant Bieldside is a suburb to the west of Aberdeen, Scotland, together with its neighbouring village of Cults. It has one pub/restaurant Bieldside is a suburb to the west...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, the daughter of Colonel William Smith Gill and his wife Ruth (the daughter of David Littlejohn). She showed early promise as a pianist and studied under Alfred Cortot
Alfred Cortot
Alfred Denis Cortot was a Franco-Swiss pianist and conductor. He is one of the most renowned 20th-century classical musicians, especially valued for his poetic insight in Romantic period piano works, particularly those of Chopin and Schumann.-Early life and education:Born in Nyon, Vaud, in the...
at the Paris Conservatoire in the 1920s. Her musical career was cut short when she met, and later married in 1931, the wealthy and much older Edmund Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy. They had three children which included her younger daughter, Frances
Frances Shand Kydd
Frances Ruth Shand Kydd was the first wife of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer and the mother of Diana, Princess of Wales...
. Lady Fermoy did play the piano in public occasionally after her marriage, most notably with Josef Krips
Josef Krips
Josef Alois Krips was an Austrian conductor and violinist.-Biography:Krips was born in Vienna and went on to become a pupil of Eusebius Mandyczewski and Felix Weingartner. From 1921 to 1924, he served as Weingartner's assistant at the Vienna Volksoper and as répétiteur and chorus master...
at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in 1950, and with Sir John Barbirolli
John Barbirolli
Sir John Barbirolli, CH was an English conductor and cellist. Born in London, of Italian and French parentage, he grew up in a family of professional musicians. His father and grandfather were violinists...
and the Hallé Orchestra at King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
in 1966. She founded the King's Lynn Festival in 1951 and remained closely involved with the Festival for 25 years, persuading Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to become its patron.
In 1956, the Queen Mother appointed Lady Fermoy an Extra Woman of the Bedchamber
Woman of the Bedchamber
In the Royal Household of the United Kingdom the term Woman of the Bedchamber is used to describe a woman attending either a queen regnant or queen consort, in the role of Lady-in-Waiting...
. The Queen Mother, being a widow herself, showed a preference for appointing widows to her household, and four years later Ruth, Lady Fermoy, was promoted to Woman of the Bedchamber, a post she held for the next 33 years. The Queen Mother and Lady Fermoy became confidantes and it was largely supposed that they engineered the match between Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, and Lady Diana Spencer. However, when asked about it, Lady Fermoy remarked: "You can say that if you like – but it simply wouldn't be true". It was also said that she counselled her granddaughter against the marriage, saying "Darling, you must understand that their sense of humour and their lifestyle are different, and I don't think it will suit you." Lady Fermoy was a firm believer in the sanctity of marriage. In 1969, her daughter Frances and John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, were divorced. Lady Fermoy testified against Frances, allowing Lord Spencer to retain custody of his children.
Lady Fermoy died at her home, 36 Eaton Square
Eaton Square
Eaton Square is a residential garden square in London's Belgravia district. It is one of the three garden squares built by the Grosvenor family when they developed the main part of Belgravia in the 19th century, and is named after Eaton Hall, the Grosvenor country house in Cheshire...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, aged 84. It was reported that she was not on speaking terms with Diana when she died.