Former Highland police officer takes on Strictly Inverness in tribute to late husband
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
During a 30-year career, former policewoman Ruth Mason took on various roles from being a uniformed officer to being involved in major investigations.
She specialised in child protection, sex offences and family liaison as well as working in the divisional rape investigation unit.
Her last four years were spent in Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Teams including being part of the team which re-investigated William McDowell who was convicted in 2022 of murdering Renee MacRae and their three-year-old son, Andrew, 46 years previously.
But Ruth’s focus is now firmly on the dance floor as one of 32 contestants in training for the annual dance contest, Strictly Inverness.
- Strictly Diary: Forming friendships
- Pictures: Strictly Inverness dancers get top marks for fundraising
- Team bonding during rehearsals
The 54-year-old will step out with Inverness Courier content editor Andy Dixon in May as they help raise money for the contest’s organisers and hosts Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre.
Ruth, who claims to be no dancer, revealed a poignant reason behind her decision to take part.
Her husband, Stuart, died just over one year ago – just weeks before their seventh wedding anniversary – and she found the Highland Hospice provided invaluable support and enabled them to spend their last night together in its Inverness unit.
Stuart, a navigational officer on a diving support vessel, had been diagnosed with cancer in July 2020, six weeks after Ruth retired from the police force and was looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.
Although he underwent surgery and treatment, the cancer spread and he was told in 2021 that it was terminal.
Despite the diagnosis, the pair still made the most of their time and enjoyed various trips while Stuart, a keen motorcyclist, continued to ride his bike for as long as he could.
But inevitably his health deteriorated.
“The hospice became involved in helping while I cared for Stuart at home,” Ruth said.
“Physiotherapists and occupational therapists came to the house as his health declined.”
She recalled their last night together at the hospice.
“What was nice was the peace and calm,” Ruth reflected.
“We both got the care and support we needed that night.
“When I think of the hospice, I don’t have a fear of the place at all. I get a sense of comfort when I am there.”
After Stuart’s death, she went to the hospice’s bereavement support group where she met another woman about the same age in similar circumstances and the pair became good friends.
“The bereavement support has been really good and it is something I very much appreciate,” she said.
Taking part in Strictly Inverness is, in part, a way of thanking the charity.
“Strictly was something I always fancied – as my friends reminded me!” said Ruth who describes herself as a quiet extrovert who can usually get folk to chat.
“As it was coming up to the first anniversary of my husband’s death, for me it was part of having a focus and challenge for myself and also the hospice means a lot to me.”
She is now in rehearsals with her dance partner and involved in various fundraising events including the first-ever Highland Masquerade Ball to be held at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Friday March 29.
It will be the pair’s major fundraising event and they are hoping people will be inspired to go along and join in the fun including a competition for the best mask.
“I love fancy dress and when I had my hen do I had a small masquerade ‘do’,” said Ruth who met Stuart while she was serving in Orkney.
Since he died, Ruth has been determined to pick up the threads of her life although she acknowledged it can be hard.
One of the first things she did was a yoga challenge which raised £1500 for Marie Curie which had also helped in Stuart’s care.
She has also done four trips in a camper van, which she found was quite hard and emotional, and has rejoined the gym.
She is also spurred on by her son, Euan (24) and family as well as friends and neighbours who she described as a “godsend” while she was caring for Stuart.
As she learns her dances, the samba and rumba, for her Strictly appearance, she said: “My body doesn’t do what I think is in my head!
“But I am really enjoying it.
“Coming up to the event, I will feel okay but on the night I think there might be some nerves going on – but hopefully I will be buzzing after it.”
To support Ruth's fundraising efforts, visit Justgiving/RuthMason
