Katie Mary Burns: an accomplished organiser and leader with many life passions
Katie Mary Burns (1941-2024) gave 20 years of dedicated service to the Girl Guides while raising four children. A nursing home matron and keen supporter of many community groups, Katie was also a keen outdoor enthusiast, ornithologist and skier.
Born in Perth to parents James Alfred McEwan and Catherine McTavish Henderson, Kathleen (Katie) was the third of five children: Veronica, James, Kathleen, Irene and Brian. Younger brother Brian sadly passed away in 1951, aged only four, and older brother James in 1980 aged 40.
Schooling in Perth at St John’s Catholic Primary and Junior Secondary School, Katie’s childhood was not straightforward. Aged seven, tuberculosis saw both parents hospitalised so Katie and her sisters were taken into care for two years while brother James stayed with family in Arbroath. Moving from Wellshill to Balnacraig care facilities aged eight, she showed early resilience during this difficult period by involving herself in activities such as athletics, swimming and choir singing.
With parental health and home life restored by 1950, Katie soon joined the Women’s Junior Air Corps and Pipe Band. Attending Perth High School aged 14, she gained entry to Bridge of Earn Hospital School of Nursing in 1957 aged 15. Qualifying in orthopaedic nursing in 1960, her first four years were spent at the Royal Northern Infirmary and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, gaining her general nursing qualification from the Central School of Nursing in 1964.
While in Inverness, Katie met a young anaesthetist from Glasgow, Dr Ian James Burns. Marrying in October 1964, they moved to Wick and started a family. In those early years Katie dedicated her focus to raising their children while still possessing the energy to thrive in a variety of key community roles.
As secretary of Wick Arts Club between 1971 and 1978, Katie was pivotal in securing Scottish Arts Council funding to bring new performing talent to the Highlands. Katie embarked on a further role as secretary of the Caithness Music Committee from 1973 to 1979, helping grow the annual county music festival. Her kind spirit often saw visiting musicians with limited budget invited to stay in the family home.
Katie’s greatest extracurricular passion was her long allegiance to the Girl Guides Association. Starting the inaugural 1st Wick Ranger Guides in 1974, Katie set about designing and leading an exciting programme of learning, events and adventure experiences for Wick teenagers. Her Rangers soon grew in numbers, broadening reach with new reciprocal youth programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Katie enjoyed great reward from helping young lives develop skills and experience towards adulthood.
With the 1st Wick Ranger Guides an established success into the 1980s, Katie’s talents as an accomplished organiser and leader did not go unnoticed. Appointed as district commissioner for Wick in 1984, she proudly served for five years overseeing operations, finance and leadership development across all of Wick’s guiding groups. In 1989 her responsibilities grew as county commissioner for Caithness while continuing to run the 1st Wick Ranger Guides, which she did until 1992. Accountable for over 500 Girl Guides and 60 group leaders across the north of Scotland, she was the driving force behind an impressive annual events programme.
Katie contributed at national level too as part of the Girl Guides Association Scottish Executive, shaping strategic direction and policy across Scotland, and as chairperson of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award committee. Katie finally hung up her neckerchief in 1993 after 20 years of dedicated service – a splendid innings that undoubtedly impacted generations of youngsters across the Highlands.
After raising their four children, Katie returned to nursing in 1989, working in Caithness General Hospital. Discovering a passion for care of the elderly in the Queen Elizabeth Wing in 1990, she moved to Riverside House nursing home in Wick as charge nurse, progressing to deputy matron at Seaview House in 1992. She became matron in 1994. Ever popular with staff and residents, Katie stayed in charge at Seaview House until retiring on her 60th birthday in October 2001.
A talented athlete in her school days, Katie was an accomplished runner, competing in marathons and distance races through the 1970s and ’80s. As a founding member of Wick Ladies’ Jogging Club, Katie also volunteered with the Wick Amateur Athletics Club and her hearty meals were received with great enthusiasm at youth training weekends at the Rumster Forest outdoor centre.
An outdoor fanatic, Katie had many life passions. A keen walker and ornithologist, she climbed many Munros and was a long-term member of the SummerCatz walking club, venturing annually across European Alps. Both she and her late husband Ian were keen skiers. Joining the Snowcats ski club in 1969, they were loyal members for over 50 years, holidaying across Europe, Canada and the Rocky Mountains. Katie and Ian formed close friendships in those early days of the club that would last their lifetimes.
Not one to miss exciting opportunities, Katie took part in a Mount Kenya climbing expedition in 2003 and hiked the Grand Canyon in 2011, celebrating her 70th birthday. Her adventurous streak also saw her paraglide and zip-wire several times in the Alps. Shyness at such seemingly hairy pursuits she did not suffer!
A proficient cook and keen gardener, Katie enjoyed blending her garden produce successes with kitchen creativity – not easy in the often harsh Caithness climate.
Wick remained her home for 55 years until Ian’s passing in 2019 aged 87, with Katie moving to Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, in 2021 to be nearer family.
A remarkable character with a vibrant and infectious personality that so naturally brought energy to a room, Katie will be dearly missed by so many she touched throughout her life.
Katie’s family express their deepest appreciation to the many friends and colleagues who shared cards, prayers and kind words.
Katie’s funeral mass was held in St Joachim’s Church, Wick on May 17. Katie was laid to rest in Wick cemetery with her beloved Ian.
Kathleen (Katie) Mary Burns (nee McEwan), born October 20, 1941, died April 24, 2024, in Strathaven, aged 82. Survived by her loving children Jane-Anne, Niall, Mairi and Michael, her seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Michael Burns
