Announcing her passing, Calton Area Association and Thenue Housing said they were deeply saddened by the loss of “our friend, committee member and East End stalwart Cathie” after a short illness.

Thenue and Calton Area Association have a long relationship stretching back over many years. Cathie has been an ever-present part of that relationship.
Cathie became a Member of the housing association in 2001 and was appointed to the Board of Management in 2009.

In 2013, she decided to concentrate her time and energy solely on the people of Calton, and became a board member of Thenue Communities, which oversees the running of Calton Heritage & Learning Centre.

Calton Heritage & Learning Centre was opened on 1st November 2013 (to commemorate the Anniversary of the 1889 Templeton’s disaster which took the lives of 29 local women), and the above picture of Cathie captures happier times when it was awarded almost £1 million from the Big Lottery to build what was the new Centre at the time.

Her hard work coupled with the efforts of others helped realise a long-held desire to create a community centre in Calton which was much-needed.

Paying tribute to Cathie, Betty Cosgrove, chair of both Calton Area Association and Thenue Communities, said: “It has been impossible for us to prepare for the loss of Cathie, and all our lives which are saddened by the current coronavirus situation have been dealt a vicious blow with the passing of our dear friend Cathie.”

Lifelong friend Betty added: “Cathie and I have been friends since childhood and her family always came first in everything she did. Together we started Calton Area Association 11 years ago to give the whole Calton community a voice and a better quality of life – notably bringing the community together.

“She was extremely proud of how people worked together to achieve the creation of the Calton Heritage and Learning Centre and of the many leisure events undertaken particularly those in the Elcho Gardens park.

“Cathie was always there for her community – especially friends and neighbours – with a strong passion and conviction but always with a cheeky attitude and as someone once described her ‘with a rottweiler attitude’. Her friend Mary MacPherson, her sister Margaret and myself will miss her friendship and dedication.”

Charles Turner, Thenue’s chief executive, said: “I have known Cathie for the last 16 years, and she personified the gritty resolve and fortitude to help make her community a better place for everyone. She never gave up that quest and a lot of the things that helped make Calton a better place for everyone stems from the feisty and courageous work of Cathie. All our thoughts are with her family and close friends at this particularly difficult time.”

Cathie is survived by her two daughters, Jaqueline and Catherine, son Scott and her five grandchildren.