A Service of Thanksgiving was held at St Bride’s on Thursday, 16th September, 2010 at 11.30am for the life and work of Alan Ruddock, reporter on the Sunday Times, Sunday Express and Sporting Life before becoming editor of the Scotsman in 1998, at a time of immense political upheaval in Edinburgh. Download Order of Service (pdf)
We are here today in St Bride’s to celebrate the life and honour the memory of Alan Ruddock, journalist and latterly editor of the Scotsman, whose career began on the Today newspaper, and continued in his native Ireland on the Sunday Tribune, the Irish edition of the Sunday Times, the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent. After a short spell at the Sunday Express he became for two years editor of the Scotsman, and he also wrote a biography of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.
His other great passion was sport, especially rugby, football and cricket, and he died suddenly while playing cricket for his local Halverstown Club in County Wicklow.
We remember today a committed journalist, with a talent for mischief and friendship, a loyal Irishman, and loving husband and father. We commend him today to Almighty God, trusting that at the end of his all-too-short life is the eternity of God’s love.Amen
Addresses
Ian Birrell, Former deputy editor of The Independent
Richard Beeston, Foreign editor of The Times
Readings
John Witherow, editor of The Sunday Times, read 1 Corinthians 15: 50-58
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Rory Godson, head of financial PR at Powerscourt, read Aer Limbo will never take off without cheeky O’Leary by Alan Ruddock (Irish Sunday Independent, 15.10.06)
Victor Mallet, read A whole institution stands indicted by Alan Ruddock (Irish Sunday Independent, 27.10.02)
Music
The choir & organist of St Bride’s performed the following anthems and songs:
Psalm 121 – Walford Davies Ubi caritas – Duruflé And I saw a new heaven – Bainton In My Life – Lennon/McCartney, arr. Jordan The Parting Glass – Irish trad.
Hymns: Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind
Guide Me, O Though Great Redeemer
Thine Be The Glory
