Reminiscing about Baroness Ruth Henig CBE JP DL
Una Riley and Andrea Berkoff recently sat down to reminisce about the life and legacy of their late friend and colleague, Ruth Henig. Their conversation revealed not only the profound impact Ruth had on their lives but also a long-held secret about a mischievous project Ruth and Una undertook over a number of years.
Ruth Hening CBE JP DL was Chair of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for six years, overseeing the introduction of its role regulating the private security industry. Following this, Ruth was appointed President of the Security Institute and continued in this and other related roles until her passing in February 2024.
The conversation began with Ruth’s inspiring background and achievements:
Una: “Ruth had an incredible life, especially considering her parents arrived in the UK as refugees, after a perilous journey escaping from the Nazis via Holland in 1940.”
Andrea: “Yes, when I profiled her, she said: ‘To me, it is a miracle I am here’. She certainly achieved so much: an academic career as well as 24 years in local government, including 10 years chairing the Association of Police Authorities and her appointment as a life peer in 2004. She was known as a force to be reckoned with – intellectual, knowledgeable, and determined, with vast experience.”
Una: “Absolutely, and she was so open-minded. Despite our differing political backgrounds, we could discuss anything and still walk away as friends. That intellectual openness was a hallmark of her character.”
Andrea: “Combined with that, Ruth was generous with her time and knowledge. She invited me to the House of Lords for an interview. She loved sharing the privileges of her position with others.”
Una: “I certainly remember her generosity and she was fun. At first, I didn’t see that – but it quickly became apparent.”
Andrea: “Yes, she could be quite austere! How did you first meet Ruth?”
Una: “At that time, we were very much pitted against each other, so we met under incredibly adverse conditions. I thought, ‘Oh no, not another quasi-politician’. But from the moment we sat down, I knew she was different. It wasn’t love at first sight, but I thought she’s got something about her and understands why the SIA was needed. It was a good, no-nonsense business meeting. She was straightforward, and I left thinking, ‘Here’s someone who will fulfil the SIA’s mission.’ That initial respect turned into a firm friendship, and we had regular nights out with our two husbands.”
Andrea: “How would you describe Ruth’s support for women in security? I don’t think her being a woman in a male-dominated industry was something she dwelled on. She just got on with it and backed positive initiatives for everyone in security.”
Una: “Yes, and I agreed with her approach. I started my career in the security industry in the 1980s, and my mantra was: ‘This isn’t a male-dominated industry; it’s just one that women discovered later than men.’ I was able to succeed, although at some points I was one of only a small number of women who ran their own security business. I was the first female Master of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals and created the Peter Greenwood Award, which ran for 20 years. But during that time, there wasn’t a single female nominee. That led me to establishing the Women in Security Awards.”
Andrea: “How did Ruth become involved?”
Una: “Ruth was supportive from the start, allowing us to host the inaugural meeting at the SIA. She couldn’t do enough. It was really important having her by my side; it gave it a credibility that I wouldn’t have been afforded. At the first awards, she said, ‘This is going to be the Oscars of the industry.'”
Andrea: “Are you ready to reveal the secret behind the pseudonyms Mango and Blip – the long-running restaurant review column in City Security magazine?”
Una: “I think it’s about time! Ruth and I would go out for girls’ dinners once a month to avoid being seen together in the day. Initially, we went to places where we were treated well during business lunches, but as two older women dining together in the evening, we often got poor service. Ruth suggested we write a food column to address this, but we’d have to write under pseudonyms. At the time, she was having a mango dessert and said, ‘I’ll be Mango,’ and since I was going through a rough patch, we decided I would be known as ‘Blip’. It was a bit mischievous and we had such a lot of fun.
Andrea: “It provided some light relief in a magazine dedicated to the serious business of security.
“It must be very difficult for you losing such a close friend.”
Una: “Ruth fought cancer for four and a half years, continuing her vibrant life as much as possible. She texted me until the night before she passed. I was still sure she’d pull through because she had overcome so much before. She even went snorkelling with her grandchildren after a round of chemo. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be this time. I miss her terribly.”
As they finished their conversation, Una and Andrea agreed Ruth left a significant legacy and they were privileged to have known her as a friend and colleague.
