Katie Pitt MBE

Congratulations to one of St Laurence’s longest-serving parishioners, 86 year old Kathleen (Katie) Pitt, who was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours for services to the community in Petersfield.

Katie’s services to the community are legion –she has collected hundreds of thousands of pounds for numerous charities, notably CAFOD, through street- collections and many street-stalls. She was a Town Councillor of Petersfield for 12 years and Mayor in 1998/9, opened a Drug Advice Centre in Petersfield for a few years till lack of funds forced it to close and currently serves on the civilian committee of the Petersfield Air Training Corps.

Some years ago Katie instigated and helped set up the Christmas Lunch organized by Petersfield Area Churches Together, for local people who would otherwise be alone; even to this day helping with the decorations and laying up of the tables. She was also a member of PACT’s Social Concerns Committee.

She has been a parishioner at St Laurence for over 80 years and was confirmed there by Bishop King. She has contributed to the life of the church for many years, as a reader, sidesman and singing in the choir and at one stage playing the old pedal organ. She was happy to get her hands dirty; she planted a tree in the church garden and helped with the cleaning.

She was until recently St Laurence’s CAFOD representative, as well as been a supporter of The Passage, a charity for the homeless in Westminster and also Vision Aid, providing eye-care in Africa. In 2008 she received the Benemerenti Medal, instituted by Pope Gregory XVI, conferred on those who have dedicated ‘long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and community’.

A former beautician for Lancome and Guerlain, Katie was Group Captain Lord Leonard Cheshire’s first helper when setting up his first Cheshire Home, Le Court, near Petersfield. Katie helped scrub floors with Lord Cheshire, who became her life-long friend, and helped prepare for the first residents, providing dignified housing for the terminally ill. In 2008 Katie was involved with the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of that first Cheshire Home. All those who know Katie are thrilled, but not surprised, that her work in the community has received this recognition. We wish her good health and many years more of dedication to her church and community.

To read about Katie's tapestry, click here