Page 7 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - September 15
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PROFILE:
RUTH LADY MORRIS OF KENWOOD CBE
Ruth, Lady Morris of Kenwood, has recently been Today, at the age of 81, Ruth is still a practicing
recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Solicitor, one of the longest continuously
being awarded a CBE (Commander of the Most practicing female members of the Law Society.
Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her She is the mother of four children ("who love and
dedication to numerous causes over the years get on with each other") and grandmother to six.
during a 53-year legal career. The “Kenwood” of
the title refers to an area of Sheffield rather than to Just a partial list of Ruth's public activities - in
the estate on Hampstead Heath. addition to her Habonim involvement - is both
wide-ranging and truly impressive:
A member of Habonim herself and soon after the Member of the Independent Broadcasting
Second World War as a Bonah in the Bayswater Authority
Synagogue Gedud, Ruth became involved in Chairman, Social Security Appeals Tribunal
Jewish Youth activities at the age of 15. First she (1990-2005)
was a Manager at Brady Girls Club and Trustee Acorn Trust (assists in education of
subsequently involved in the AJY Executive, children in Nepal)
through the Executive of Victoria Boys and Girls Trustee, Womankind Worldwide (travelled
Club; with the Allocations Committee of the UJIA extensively to visit and assist in overseas
and as a Trustee of the Jewish Youth Fund. projects in India, Zimbabwe, South Africa,
etc.)
Ruth was “roped in” to Habonim (subsequently Patron Jewish Aids Trust
Habonim Dror) in the late 1970s by the late Joe Trustee, Elsie & Barnett Janner Charitable
Gilbert who was looking to retire from his Trust (Ruth’s parents)
position as 'Ba Koach Habonim'. Although Joe Director, Connaught Brown (Art Gallery in
suggested to Ruth that the job was a sinecure, Albermarle Street, London)
Ruth's involvement has been very hands-on since Trustee, Berkshire Outdoor Educational Trust
1979, as Honorary President. As Ruth says: "It is (charity for outdoor education for Berkshire
of my being involved with this organisation that I Schools)
am the most proud, including what I have done in
the public sector. The Chaverim that are and have As to being awarded a CBE, Ruth says …. “It
been involved are truly remarkable in every way feels amazing to be recognised in such a way and
and I am constantly astonished at their to be given this great honour. I got a letter through
commitment and enthusiasm." Very many have in the post and was told not to tell anyone for five
the past and still today hold responsible and weeks – it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever
important positions in the Community had to do!"
Educated both in London and in Canada, Ruth
graduated from the School of Law in 1976.
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