A WEST Somerset village has been mourning the death of its former publican Christopher Robin Rutt, known to many as ‘Robbie’, who had served the Kilve community in many roles for the past 45 years.

Mr Rutt died, aged 88, peacefully at home with husband David beside him as was his wish, on August 27, and his funeral service will be held at 2 pm in Kilve’s St Mary’s Church on September 30.

He owned and ran the village’s Hood Arms public house for 17 years until retirement in 1995, when he then quietly set about becoming involved in a range of charitable efforts.

Mr Rutt was honoured in 2023 for his services to the Kilve community with a BEM in King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List.

He served for 20 years as a parish councillor, and as editor and distributor of the Kilve News newsletter for 25 years.

Mr Rutt was also treasurer of St Mary’s Church parochial church council for nearly 30 years during which he oversaw the church’s £200,000 restoration and renovation, following which he ran an annual antiques and collectors fair raising thousands each year for church maintenance costs.

Kilve's Christiopher 'Robbie' Rutt receives his BEM from the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq.
Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Mohammed Saddiq presenting Kilve's Christiopher 'Robbie' Rutt with his BEM in 2023. (Alain Lockyer)

He was the youngest of three children, by an hour, of Leonard Arthur and Frances Edwina Rutt, a farming family in Bicknoller.

His father was a friend to the 5th Countess Carnarvon and was persuaded to send Robbie, aged seven, not to Bristol, but to Guilford, where he was treated for a broken nose by plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe.

Robbie talked fondly of time shared with young airmen being treated for injuries suffered in the Second World War, boosting his honorary membership of the Guinea Pig Club, a support network and social club for Allied aircrew who suffered severe burns and underwent pioneering reconstructive plastic surgery.

Robbie joined Union-Castle Line passenger fleet in 1960 as a purser’s clerk and worked his way up to become cruise purser aboard the ‘Reina del Mar’ and latterly the ‘Windsor Castle’, sailing regularly to South Africa and the Americas until the end of the line’s operations in the late 1970s.

His husband David said: “In a lifetime of service, Robbie transformed the lives of so many, welcoming newcomers to the village of Kilve, fund-raising for charities and the restoration of the local church.

“He inspired and led so many initiatives that have improved village life.

“His resourcefulness created solutions where others might find problems.

“Robbie was respected and admired by all, he was humble, generous, and kind.

“He never wavered in his commitment to help others.

“Robbie had been living with a cancer for some time, which, not surprisingly, he managed with grace and humour.

“He will long be remembered, but sadly missed.”

His BEM was presented by Somerset Lord Lieutenant Mohammed Saddiq, who praised Mr Rutt for his tireless work across decades to benefit Kilve in both formal and informal capacities.

Mr Rutt’s funeral will see family flowers only, with donations accepted for St Mary’s Church via Grandfield and Son, of Nether Stowey.