Appreciation: Ruth Rendell quickly became a valued member of the House of Lords

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/04/ruth-rendell-appreciation

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Ruth Rendell was not only a distinguished author, she was also a much loved colleague and friend. She entered the House of Lords in the first list of Labour peers after the 1997 election, taking the title Lady Rendell of Babergh – a recognition of her beloved Suffolk. She quickly became a valued member, attending regularly and taking part in the life of the house.

Her day began at 5.30am with exercise, including a stint on her cross trainer; she also did pilates twice a week. She started writing in the early morning, but always made sure that she arrived at 2.30pm for Question Time in the Lords.

Ruth scarcely missed a vote, unless abstaining on principle, and was prepared to stay late for business, even after she was 80, enjoying the banter and gossip of the Lords over a drink. Her conversations were filled with a love of life and her devotion to writing. One of her Barbara Vine novels, The Blood Doctor, was inspired by her experiences in the Lords.

Any form of inequality infuriated her and she had a passionate belief in social justice. She led and took part in debates on female genital mutilation (FGM), homelessness and strokes. She was particularly vocal in her condemnation of FGM. Her novel Live Flesh includes an episode highlighting this abhorrent practice and her determination to counter it resulted in her first piece of legislation. Ruth’s public conversations with her friend PD James – performances with wit, insights and wicked humour – raised many thousands of pounds for charity.

It was a pleasure to discuss literature and life with her and she was always a generous and loyal friend. She could quote, at length, from novels, plays and poetry. Ruth read widely from the classics to contemporary fiction and had ploughed through Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire at least three times in recent years. She loved theatre and opera, particularly Handel whose recorded works she collected.

Shrewd and intuitive about human nature, she was endlessly curious, but not obtrusive. She gave sound advice in a considered way, when it was asked for. Ruth knew our families, rejoiced in their successes and was sympathetic to their problems. She took great pride in her own family and adored her cat, Archie. She was distraught when he twice disappeared for days or when he got into fights. Archie went to see her in hospital and was a garrulous visitor.

She will be greatly missed in the Lords. When PD James died, Ruth said: “She had a wonderful and fulfilled life. What more can anybody expect?” In mourning Ruth, we shall remember this.