In 1962 a very pretty 18-year-old Welsh girl called Katherine Margaret Powell Young travelled from West Wales to London to start her wonderful career in nursing.

Because of the long distance from her beloved Wales, she was moved to Southampton General Hospital to complete her three-year course. Katherine achieved her ambition to become an SRN - in fact she received the highest marks in her class. Katherine stayed in Southampton General Hospital, and soon became a Sister of her own ward, at the time the youngest Sister in the hospital.

Unfortunately, Katherine had a bad experience by marrying a person who turned out to be a very abusive person. A positive Katherine took from the marriage was her wonderful children. Katherine moved the family to Devon and finalised the divorce.

Katherine was a very special person, strong, and soon became successful. Katherine became Matron of Honeyditches, a Seaton nursing home. Katherine was such a wonderful, caring person and was loved by the patient's and staff. The end-of-life care that she gave to her patients was so important to her, and family and friends thought the world of her wonderful caring ways.

It was about this time when she decided to learn to drive, where she found her true love David, (DC), her wonderful driving instructor. Katherine fell in love with him completely. Katherine used to say that that David saved her and her children, but David said that she had also saved him.

David had become very successful and had built his own house. David said: “I built the house but Katherine made the home.”

Katherine moved to the famous nursing home, Check House, where she became the Matron Manager, again she was truly loved by all. The home was run by Charles and Wendy Maitland, and when Katherine died this February the 10th with her family and David  at her side, Charles and Wendy wrote a wonderful tribute to her.

It was such a shock and sadness to hear that our dear lovely Kathy had been taken so suddenly, but thank you for being in touch so we know that her passing was calm and gentle, in the same way that she always wanted for others when she was looking after

them in their last hours and moments. Kathy was wonderful Matron at Check House, loved and admired by everyone where her kindness, capability and warmhearted Welsh spirit was legendary.

Kathy was a the the best of nurses with an inner light that glowed with all that is most true and noble in the vocation of being a nurse. Thank you Kathy for leaving us with so many precious memories which we will love and treasure for always. This comes with loving thoughts for you dear David and all family from Wendy and Charles.

When Check House was sold to new owners, Katherine decided to go private. Bruce and Elizabeth Jacob approached her to look after their Mother (Gran). Theirs was a wonderful relationship, and this is the tribute from Bruce and Elizabeth.

A Tribute to Kathy, a Nurse, not a bureaucrat in uniform with a tick-box mentality. Kathy and Mother had a great deal of fun, I guess they shared things that never left the Cottage, there were many things that Kathy undertook for Gran, that we knew nothing about.

Each day Kathy had to drive some distance often in bad weather, but Kathy loved her driving. It was realised that staying in the Cottage was no longer viable, Kathy liaised with a local friend who worked in a care home nearer to  us in Chichester, and arranged transport. She even came for the day to settle her in, a round trip of over 250 miles.

So Kathy a very special person who always  went the extra mile, she understood and cared for people and could deal with any peculiarity with good humour she had a strong love  of her Welsh heritage, and so pleased that we could  visit part  of Wales and see the Family Church.

Someone we will never forget who came in a time of need, literally a Godsend.

Bruce and Elizabeth Jacob.

When wonderful Gran died Katherine had a short break, and we decided to have a week’s holiday. On our return Katherine became restless and needed to carry on with her nursing.

Her last patients were in our own little village of Southleigh, Audrey and Harry Hayson. He was a retired surgeon who practised in the same hospital that Katherine trained in; in fact as a young nurse, she was involved in a major operation with him.

This is a tribute from their daughter Katherine.

In memory of beautiful caring Katherine

Who enriched so many of our lives -  I speak for my whole family when I say that without dear 'Kate' as we knew her, the lives of our parents Audrey and Harry Hayson  would have been very different, and as a result - all of our lives. 

She was a wonderful  friend to all of us - a wise and caring  Nurse, and we loved her dearly.

I believe our lives were meant to come together and I certainly believe she is now at peace in Heaven. God bless you David, you have been the most wonderful caring partner to Katherine and though you will miss her terribly, she has been called to eternity.

Her five children, Rachel, Ruth, Sarah, Esther and Paul loved her dearly. She was a wonderful loving mother, an amazing nurse and very special human being.

Lord I am thinking again now of the person l knew and loved, the person whose life on this earth has ended. I think of all that was good in her life, seen and unseen things, and I thank you for them. Thank you that the positive effects of the good things she did can continue.