BIRTHDAY AUNTY
At 107 years young Ruth Hall, or Aunty Ruth as she is affectionately known by many Howick residents, is an amazing lady and an inspiration to all who know her.
Her daughter Felicity and her husband, Jim de Necker, flew from Cape Town at the weekend to celebrate her birthday at Amberfield Retirement Village.
Aunty Ruth’s musical journey started when she was just five years old when she had her first piano lessons and now, 102 years later, she still plays for religious services in Howick and to entertain her many friends.
Her musicality is such that, by the age of 12, she played the organ regularly in the Ixopo Anglican Church.
Another interest was in domestic science and after three years of study, Aunty Ruth taught at the Longmarket Street School in Pietermaritzburg, until she was transferred to teach at three schools in Durban, ending up at a top Durban Girl’s School at Gordon Road, Morningside.
She was also a talented hockey player
and played for the Rippington team in ‘Maritzburg.
Ruth met and married dairy farmer, Donald Robert Hall, who farmed at Willow Grange, plus a thorn farm at Weenen, and a ‘Berg farm near Giants Castle.
For 30 years Ruth played the pipe organ in the Anglican Church in Estcourt, and has happy memories of playing the pipe organ in the Michaelhouse chapel.
In her latter years Aunty Ruth has worked with Fiona Bull, of the Howick Junior School, in compiling an album of her music where her compositions were eagerly accepted by Fiona’s choirs. She has also worked closely with John Tungay and together they are setting up
The Ruth Hall Music Library.
Aunty Ruth thanked all Village Talk readers, saying that their kind support enabled her to realise her dream to have her songs printed and enjoyed by children and to glorify the Lord. Fiona, she
added, was instrumental in accomplishing this dream.