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Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven

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English socialite

Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven
BornAlison Mary Hore-Ruthven
(12 June 1901)
Died1974 (aged 72–73)
NationalityEnglish
Other namesHon. Alison Mary Barran
Occupationsocialite
Known forRalli Twins
Spouse(s) Commander Sir John Leighton Barran, 3rd Baronet ​ ​(m. 1928)​
Parents
RelativesBridget Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland (sister)
Margaret Leslie Hore-Ruthven (sister)

Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven, Lady Barran (1901–1974) was one of the Ruthven Twins, or Ralli Twins, a pair of Bright Young Things scandalizing society for their antics.

Biography

Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven was the daughter of Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland and Mary Ruthven, Lady Ruthven of Freeland.

The Ralli Twins

As a young woman, Alison and her twin sister Margaret Leslie Hore-Ruthven, nicknamed "Peggy", were among the founders of the unofficial society of the Bright Young People and were dubbed by newspapers the "Ralli Twins" and by society as "A&P". They used to dress-alike and were basically identical. They used to scandalize society, like when, at the coming-of-age party for Loel Guinness, they wore very short, close-fitting silver dresses.

Both sisters modelled for a dress-making establishment. They were among the firsts in society to wear the low-heeled slippers making them fashionable. Under the name of Ralli Twins, they had a career dancing on stage, but family pressure had them renounce this venture.

According to Cecil Beaton, in his The Book of Beauty: "The Ruthven Twins are the most striking pair, always identically dressed; even to the brass necklace, they are indistinguishable from one another. Richly carved with large full mouths, high cheek bones, and knobbly noses, they are as decorative as a pair of Assyrian rams. They are Byzantine goddess, dressed like fairies in a circus design by Picasso, with their dark locks tied with little tinsel bows, their spangled ballet-skirts, and low-heeled shoes."

In 1928 Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven married Commander Sir John Leighton Barran, 3rd Baronet.

References

  1. ^ "Twins to Separate - 07 Dec 1928, Fri • Page 3". Pensacola News Journal: 3. 1928. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. Dudgeon, Piers (2011). Captivated: J. M. Barrie, Daphne Du Maurier and the Dark Side of Neverland. Random House. p. 4. ISBN 9781446476574. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. "Amusing Turns Brighten Coming-of-Age Party - 16 Jul 1927, Sat • Page 33". The Winnipeg Tribune: 33. 1927. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  4. Balfour, Patrick. Society Racket. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  5. Beaton, Cecil (1933). The Book Of Beauty. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
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