Died: April 15, 2026

Lorraine Ribbons, who has died aged 72, had a love of nature and gardening which was the inspiration for her work in Scotland organising outdoor activities for children and young adults with heart disorders.

Born in 1953 in Oxford, she trained as a nurse then as a midwife at the John Ratcliffe Children’s Hospital in Headington, a suburb of Oxford. Her father had been a fighter pilot in the Second World War and a mother was a German-speaking Swiss and she had an underlying determination to enjoy the gifts of nature, to get into the outdoors and to nurture her gardens as well as the capabilities of others.

Lorraine met her first husband Robert in Oxford and they married in 1976. Soon they moved to Scotland where Robert had been brought up.

She started her family of three boys, two of whom had heart disorders. So it seemed inevitable, given her generous people-centred personality that she became a stalwart of the Association for Children with Heart Disorders (ACHD), at first supporting parents then children themselves. She helped to develop ACHD’s work through Braveheart which focused on the needs of teenagers and young adults. She initiated annual weekends away which were held in Pitlochry where the local church congregation acted as hosts and guides.

In Edinburgh, a consultant at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Sciennes recognised that, given her qualifications, work and family experience, Lorraine could be a great asset and asked her to spend time in the cardiac wards talking to and befriending parents and young children with heart disorders – a hitherto under-developed aspect of the hospital’s provision.

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The family had initially moved to a house in Prestonpans in East Lothian where they had a large garden which proved a focal point for not only horticulture but for social activities for local children, families, visitors and church congregation. In Edinburgh, qualifying as a health visitor, she also worked in the deprived communities of Wester Hailes and Saughton.

As her children grew older, Lorraine was no longer a full-time mother and she found time to volunteer with Couples Counselling Edinburgh, qualifying as a counsellor, unpaid work she continued for many years.

Again Lorraine had plenty of real-life experience to bring to this work. Her marriage to Robert had disintegrated and by 2006 they had divorced. In 2010 she married Frank Ribbons, a Church of Scotland minister she met on a sponsored bike ride. They moved to Aboyne where Frank took up the linked charge of the two parishes of Aboyne-Dinnet and Cromar.

Aberdeenshire was a good location for Lorraine. She expanded her love of walking and cycling locally and in the Cairngorms. She also took up wild swimming in the River Dee.

She was a fluent German speaker and was well equipped to guide groups of German tourists in Scotland. In Europe, the Ribbons walked the Tour du Mont Blanc, a six-day journey passing through France and Italy. In Africa they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Lorraine loved adventure and so did Frank, an ex-army cadet who was passionate about paragliding. This, at one point, after an accident in the French Alps, resulted in him having a seven-week stay in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was nursed for multiple fractures.

It was from this time that Lorraine’s own health problems surfaced. Her speech and cognitive abilities had become impaired and she lost her usual confident stride. It was clear she could no longer live without support. By 2024 she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She collapsed whilst out walking, leading her family to worry that this was her end. She recovered but not for long. On Easter Sunday she had another fall and banged her head. In hospital she caught pneumonia. On Wednesday 15th April she slipped away surrounded by the people that she loved.

The Ribbons had a house in Corstorphine in Edinburgh. It also had a large garden, one with an apple tree in need of felling. Some twigs were preserved which became root stock and are now young trees in gardens in the Church of Scotland manse in Aboyne and those of friends in England.

Lorraine is survived by her husband Frank and children Andrew, Russell and Adrian and by grandchildren Nix, Theo, Isaac, Ruth, James, Johnny, Beth and Isla.

KAY SMITH

At The Herald, we carry obituaries of notable people from the worlds of business, politics, arts and sport but sometimes we miss people who have led extraordinary lives. That’s where you come in. If you know someone who deserves an obituary, please consider telling us about their lives. Contact garry.scott@heraldandtimes.co.uk