After joining the Army at the age of 18 in 1992, Katie completed basic training at Army Women’s Training Centre in Guilford before travelling to undertake trade training with the Royal Military Police at Chichester.
She completed 2 operational tours to Bosnia and Croatia during the genocide in 1994 and 1995 after which she was deployed as a searcher Corporal in Northern Ireland. Having been selected to attend the commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Katie was commissioned in August 1997 and returned to the RMP. In 2002 she left the Army and trained with Humberside Probation service prior to starting ordination training.
Katie joined the Newcastle team in 2007 on a long placement and in her own words “forgot to leave” – she was appointed as head of chaplaincy for the trust in 2020.
Katie also featured in series one alongside staff welfare hound Poppy. In Series two it is almost time for Poppy to retire, so Katie is training up new staff welfare dog, Fern.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy working within a Trust that is so diverse and forward thinking. No two days are ever the same which means I never know what a shift is going to bring. I spend a lot of my time journeying alongside patients, relatives and the staff, be that on the wards or in the chapel of rest.
I have the privilege of being with people at the very best and the very worst of times. I enjoy coming to work every day and am proud to be a part of a team that values and supports me. As a former army officer, I particularly recognise how being a part of this Trust, echoes my experiences of good leadership and a strong team ethos.
What do you do in your spare time?
I qualified as an Inshore Rescue Boat Coxswain on leaving the military and enjoy ultra-distance trail running and fast packing. My partner of 16 years is a GP and also a priest and we have two children.
How was the filming / why did you want to be part of the series?
I enjoyed filming, mostly! Getting the chance to show people what hospital chaplaincy is actually about as opposed to what people think we do was great and also a reminder to all of our team about how embedded and valued we are in the organisation.
