A sporty teenager, Kate joined the Army at 17 and enjoyed her decade of service. Three years after she left, Kate was seeking a new direction and re-trained as a stonemason. She studied stone carving at university, living in a van in order to afford her studies. The charity Heritage Crafts awarded Kate a training bursary, funded by the ABF, to assist her studies. Now, she’s helping to mark the lifting of the LBTQ+ ban in the military as part of the team creating the national memorial.
Combining sport and a military career
Growing up in Carlisle, Kate’s spare time was given to judo. She competed for GB as a cadet until she was 16 and was national champion at 15. Always active, Kate left school at 17 and joined the Army. Kate says: “I thought I would serve three years and then decide what to do – I served for ten years.”
Kate joined the Intelligence Corps as a Signals Analyst. Her first posting was to RAF Digby, working in a tri-service environment, where she was dealing with top secret material. She undertook two operational tours – in Kosovo and Northern Ireland – and finished her career in the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall.
Kate enjoyed her time in the Army. She was an active footballer, captaining the Army and Combined Services team for several years. Kate says: “’I loved my Army life, but I was in search of a new challenge.” She left military service in 2008 in the rank of Acting Sergeant.
A new direction after the Army
Initially, Kate, a UEFA B qualified football coach, worked in football, helping set up the Women’s and Girls Development Programme at West Ham. But, aged 30, Kate was seeking a different focus and decided to train as a stonemason.
She attended college and completed two years as an apprentice at a local firm. Having a head for heights, Kate also became a rope access abseiler, which led to her working on some of the most historic and prestigious stone buildings in the UK, including York Minister.
Kate now has turned to decorative stone carving to broaden her portfolio. In her final year at the City & Guilds of London Art School undertaking a Historic Carving degree, Kate has lived in a converted van for two and a half years to help finance her course.
In 2024, for her final project, Kate received a training bursary from Heritage Crafts, the national charity for heritage crafts, funded by the ABF. Our charity awarded Heritage Crafts with a grant to provide three training bursaries, specifically for Army veterans, as part of our focus on supporting veterans to explore rewarding new careers after leaving the Army. This bursary has assisted with Kate’s final project, which she hopes will help gain future commissions; and enabled her to complete the third year of her degree.
Kate says: “The support from Heritage Crafts and the ABF has also meant that, alongside the Art School tuition, I have received individual tuition from an award-winning sculptor.”
Kate’s degree has given her a breadth of experience and knowledge. She is looking forward to the future and says that: “Without the grant from the ABF I would not have been able to complete my project or the third year of degree. I am extremely grateful for your support.”