The Rt Revd Stephen Platten writes:
AS INTERNATIONAL Affairs Secretary for the former Church of England Board for Social Responsibility, Pamela Gruber was a significant contributor to the Church’s policy on international social issues.
She enjoyed the confidence of archbishops, in particular John Habgood, when Archbishop of York, and Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury. She had an immensely good pedigree in this realm of church affairs and policy, since she had a remarkable CV, which read like that of an envoy from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It included postings with the International Red Cross, Christian Aid, and the World Council of Churches, and a good spell with Christian World Service in New Zealand. The world stage was her playground and her lifetime’s ubiquitous abode.
By birth and instinct, Pamela was proudly Scottish. Born in Edinburgh, she was educated at George Watson’s Ladies’ College and the University of Edinburgh. She returned to Edinburgh on retirement from her work with the Church of England. Even then, she did not entirely retire from the world of social policy: she joined the fledgling Patients’ Council of the Western General Hospital, in the Scottish capital.
Pamela was the most stimulating of people with whom to work. She was always businesslike and clear-minded, but all was constantly laced with wit and humour. This was a powerful cocktail, and some indeed admitted to finding her scary. She was a “committed realist”, but all was rooted in an intellectually honest and subtle faith.
She was an early advocate of “justice as liberation” for people living in poverty or deprivation. She was no admirer of outward cosy piety or pure sentimentality. For her, sentimentality was simply experiencing emotion without calculating or being prepared to pay the cost. She was also no “Sunday-only churchgoer” living in a comfortable outer suburb of London. Instead, throughout her time working for the C of E, she lived on or near Railton Road, in Brixton, right on the “Front Line”, as it came to be known during the 1981 riots.
Pamela was a great admirer of Runcie, and her place of residence almost certainly reinforced his determination to initiate the most controversial political intervention of the Church in the last quarter of the 20th century, which, on publication, was entitled Faith in the City. Runcie was personally appalled by the riots that were happening at no real distance from his London residence at Lambeth.
Pamela (no one called her Pam for fear of death) enjoyed a very positive working relationship with Runcie. That, too, was laced with humour. On one occasion, they were jointly preparing for a meeting with Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Alongside the serious discussion, they both were most concerned to avoid the standard kiss at the beginning of all exchanges with the Palestinian leader. Needless to say, they both failed and were duly embraced.
When Archbishop Habgood was preparing to meet Jacques Delors, then President of the European Commission, Pamela was an important consultant. She was also part of the Anglican team briefing the Archbishop-elect during the World Council of Churches’ meeting in Canberra in 1991. Her long experience of international affairs was essential, but she was also very clubbable — an ideal companion for pre-dinner drinks in the common room before adjourning to the restaurant.
Outside work, Pamela was a loyal and trusted friend, showing great generosity. Although never married, she was a marvellous godmother and lover of children. The children of friends greatly enjoyed her company, as any of those who worked with her would testify. Friends would also hear of touching generosity when gifts came after some sort of personal loss. But they would also hear of characteristically robust responses. When passing a rather spreading gentleman taking up two seats in a bus, she would comment: “I’m assuming you bought two tickets before boarding?” Abroad, she displayed equal alertness with humour. If in a sticky situation, she would refer to the entirely fictitious husband, Dr Gruber, who might appear at any moment.
The Churches across the world and wider humanity have much for which to give thanks to Pamela.
Pamela Gruber died on 6 January, aged 92.