It is with great sadness that we learned this week that Katie has lost her battle with cancer, fought so bravely over the last year. It was certainly a very difficult year for her, and yet she always remained cheerful. That was Katie. Always a smile. Always a positive outlook on life despite everything it threw at her. For those that were not aware, it is less than a year ago that John died, but Katie always had a smile and never stopped giving her all to every kind of event in the village.

Katie was involved in so much around the village that all of us will have our own particular memories. As part of the Crowhurst News team we know just how many hundreds of hours John and Katie gave to the Crowhurst News over almost the whole 36 years of its life. They have between them taken on editing, distribution, treasurer, the stall at the Fayre and much more. When we decided to organise a village event in support of Parkinson’s a couple of years ago, even though Katie was not directly involved she immediately stepped forward to help. That was Katie. Nothing was ever too much trouble.

We will miss Katie’s smiling face and cheery wave at the window as we walk up Ballard’s Hill with the dog. Our last memory of Katie is just a few weeks ago when she joined the Burns Night event in the village hall. Still smiling, still joining in to the very last. It feels like the end of an era for Crowhurst. Our village will miss both Katie and John for so many reasons.

Daphne and Peter Linecar