RUTH BRIMACOMBE

RUTH Brimacombe, one of Spreyton’s much-loved characters died on September 15, aged 91 years.

She was born on September 30 in 1925 at Kelland Barton, Lapford, the youngest of eight children of James Ponsford and Emma Gregory.

Her father was a farmer and moved when Ruth was three to Broad Nymet, Bow.

Ruth could recite all the old businesses that ran from the top to the bottom of Bow, which was many and varied.

In 1939 the family moved again to Coombe Farm, Spreyton, Ruth working on the farm during the War.

All her sisters were talented in making their own clothes and were good cooks.

She often recalled the soldiers being billeted in Spreyton and how exciting it was to have so many young men in the village.

Ruth met her husband, Richard (Dick) Brimacombe, a long time before they started courting.

They both loved to dance and it was at a Village Hall dance that they started to date. They particularly liked hunt balls and it gave everyone the chance to dress in dinner jackets and long gowns which Ruth would sometimes make herself and was a far cry from farm life.

After five years they married in St Michael’s Church, Spreyton. It was 1947 and because the War had just ended, everything was still rationed so there was no wedding gown and only one photograph of the big day.

They spent their honeymoon in London staying with family. It was the only holiday they ever had and Ruth often recalled their time there, although they never wanted to go again.

Ruth and Dick lived at Thornpark, Spreyton, in a tied cottage. Dick worked for Lord Lambert as a driver and on the farm and Ruth helped Lady Lambert at Coffins.

Dick lost his job and they had to move back to Coombe Farm with their eldest daughter Marian.

They eventually were given a council house in Spreyton where their second daughter Eileen was born.

In 1956 they moved to South Beer Farm, which Dick and his brother bought together.

It was one of the coldest winters and the farmhouse had been empty for a while. There was only one open fire in the house and Ruth often recalled how hard it was to keep the farmhouse warm. Within a few weeks of moving into the farm, Ruth’s mother-in-law had a stroke and went to live at South Beer with Wilfrid, Dick’s brother and continued to live there for 13 years.

Dick and Wilf kept a mixed farm, milking morning and night and contracting out cutting hedges and combining. Ruth kept turkeys and chickens which she sold to local residents and supplied bingo’s.

Her sisters and friends would help at Christmas with plucking turkeys and a few sherries helped keep them warm.

By now the house was always full with family and neighbours and in 1961 their son Richard was born, who still lives on the farm.

Their youngest daughter Sandra was born in 1965 so the house was full with young people.

Ruth always liked to see people and there was always a warm welcome to everyone and lots of fun and laughter.

They never had holidays but on Sundays the milking would be a bit earlier so the family could go for a ride to Dawlish, Bude or anywhere nearby, having something to eat in the car or a picnic which Ruth would take all day to prepare.

Ruth loved to cook and every Saturday would be spent cooking.

Everyone said about Ruth “What a character!” She called a spade a spade, made everyone feel welcome and always had a full table of food and a good sense of humour.

The local postman would call in for a bacon sandwich and when the baker who called once a week lost his wife, Ruth asked him to stay for tea every week.

Ruth loved her family. She had four children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren who all lived locally and called in weekly. She kept up-to-date with them all.

In the last few years she was less mobile. She loved to watch her soaps on TV and no-one dared ring her while they were on.

She relied on carers in the last few years and they become like extended family.

Her funeral was held at the end of September and the church was full with people standing, which for a woman of 91 years, showed how loved she was.

Everyone recalled her good humour and her memory of people and places. She always supported the church, which was an important part of her life and the Devon Air Ambulance which helped her son in an accident on the farm. More than £500 was raised in her memory, which went to both causes.

She will be sorely missed by family and friends who came from far and wide for her welcome smile, wicked sense of humour and her hospitality.

Eileen Martin