About

• Summary:
   

  The fourth born in 1861 into Samuel and Kate's large family, Katie was one of only two girls in a family of 13 and no doubt played a supportive role in helping her mother bring up her children . Perhaps this influenced her decision not to marry. She lived a full life, being an excellent sports- woman, with artistic skills and huge energy in community activities. See her Reminiscences of Our Youthful Days for a flavour of her character.

• Archive link: Link to Kate’s documents and images
• No of documents: 16
• No of Images: 18
• No of photo albums: 7
• Born: Saturday, 28 December 1861
• Birthplace: Kidderminster, Worcestershire
• Died: Monday, 25 October 1954
• Bio:

  
  Family:
  The fourth child of Samuel Stretton and Kate (née Birch), Kate Mary and her sister, Gertrude Rosa, were the only two girls in the family of ffteen children, three of whom died in infancy.
  Early days:
  There is little in the way of documented material to tell of Kate’s early days but one can assume that she had a signifcant art in hel ing her mother bring u her siblings, the youngest of which was born when Kate was ffteen.
  Notable aspects:
  Katie never married but clearly led a very full life based on her sporting, artistic and community interests. Much of this we can infer from the extensive photographic record that she amassed and which is reproduced in this archive.
  A window into her character is provided by the following verses, written by C. C. Brinton, of the carpet family, in1897:
  A braw gay golfer is Miss Kate,
  She’s golfig early, golfig late,
  At tennis too she finely plays,
  And all beholders doth amaze.
  
  To Clubs uiiumbered she fulfils,
  A secretary’s post aid “mills”,
  Arranges twixt her club and others,
  And maiy sundry little bothers.
  
  Her bike’s the finest in the place,
  Admired by all the populace,
  She rides on it throughout the city,
  This clever and accomplished Kitty.
  
  She scorches up the hills like mad,
  Resembliig some Post Office lad,
  And anyone the road you met on,
  Would tell you: “Who? Oh, that’s Miss Stretton!”

  Tennis:
  Katie was a talented tennis layer, competing in prestigious tournaments, including in Bournemouthin1897, where she won a silver-plated backhand mirror trophy that is now in the Wimbledon Museum.
  In 1900, the Kidderminster Lawn Tennis Club recognised Katie’s contribution to the club: insert link to it
  Dear Sir (or Madam)
  It has been suggested by several members of the above Club that on this twenty-first year of its existeice, the valuable services of Miss Stretton should be recognised.
  It is recognised that the Club owes its preseit prosperity – not to say its very existeice – to her untiriing energy and unselfish efforts...”
  
  Golf:
  In January 1913 Members of the Kidderminster Golf Club presented Katie with a silver tea service upon her resignation of the Hon Secretaryship of the Ladies Section of the Club. The citation (insert link to it) states that it is given “..as a token of the esteem and affection in which she is held by the members and in recognitioin of her interest in the club for which she has doe such good work for the past 15 years.”
  
  Further insight into her character can be seen in the The Golfing Gentlewoman article on page 114 of the March 7 1914 edition (insert link to it) .
  “An example of what Kidderminster ladies do for their club is instanced in the efforts of Miss Stretton, who is a thorough sports-woman, and for many years was the backbone of the club. For fifteen years, from 1898 to 1913, she acted as Honorary Secretary, and during this time, in 1910, played the fine score of 83 for the course. This remains unbeaten at present... During her long term of office she did good work for the club in providing Saturday teas for the gentlemen members... In 1903, in recognition of many services, Miss Stretton was presented by the male members with a gold watch, (insert link to citation) and later with life membership.”
  
  Amateur dramatics:
  Katie’s photograph albums contain a number of pictures showing her and friends dressed for stage erformances.
  
  Writing:
  This archive contains two of Katie’s personal notebooks which reveal her creativity, interest in word games, limericks etc. In one (link to to Notebook 2) she writes, with her cousin, Reminiscences of Our Youthful Days.
  
  Drawing/painting:
  Katie was a talented artist, as seen in the flower paintings, which are here. (link to KMS flower paintings.pdf)
  
  Cycling:
  As noted in CC Brinton’s verses above, Katie was a keen cyclist. You can hear the story here(linktoStrongarmofthelaw.mp3) of when her brakes failed.
  
  Fund-raising:
  Raising funds for herclubs and the Kidderminster Hospital occu ped much of Katie’s time, whether organising stands at local bazaars or racing her tortoises! (link to tortoise icture).

• Place of Death: Droitwich, Worcesterhsire
• Father: Samuel Stretton
• Mother: Kate Stretton (nee Birch)
• Sibling-1: William Richard Stretton
• Sibling-2: Ernest Samuel Stretton
• Sibling 3: John Lionel Stretton
• Sibling 4: Edward Alfred Stretton
• Sibling 5: Unnamed twin
• Sibling 6: Unnamed twin
• Sibling 7: Gertrude Rosa Stretton
• Sibling 8: Harry Weston Stretton
• Sibling 9: Robert Bertram Stretton
• Sibling 10: Francis Byrche Stretton
• Sibling 11: Hubert Arthur Stretton
• Sibling 12: Sidney Sturges Stretton
• Sibling 13: Archibald Callendar Stretton
• Sibling 14: Philip Cevcil Braddyll Stretton