My mother was brought up in a children’s home and never had many toys.   She named the few dolls she did have “Ruth” and, finally, when I was born, she had a real live doll to call “Ruth”.

As a child,  I thought that the name “Ruth” was too simple and yearned to be called “Rebecca” or “Rachael” but I’ve grown to like my name.

One incident in school made me wish I had another name.  Because I was talking in class the monitor had to record my name on the blackboard – I was mortified to see my name spelt “Roof”!

My Mother And I