A WOMAN once described as the cornerstone of education in Herefordshire has died at the age of 93, writes LIZ WATKINS.

She was known simply as Sister Catherine, a tiny woman with a quiet voice, but her reputation as headteacher of St Mary's Roman Catholic High School at Lugwardine was king-size.

Sister Catherine Goodstadt was a member of the Order of the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul and she gave a lifetime serving education and later communities in this country and abroad.

When she retired from St Mary's in 1972 she was accredited with being responsible for a 'golden chapter in the history of Catholic education in Herefordshire'.

She is remembered still with great affection by thousands of former pupils in the county. "She was the teacher who never had to raise her voice,'' said one.

"So many were touched by her influence. She was a wonderful person and I cannot praise her highly enough,'' said a former teaching colleague, Mrs Agnes Lee.

Sister Catherine was in charge of St Mary's School when it was a boarding school catering for girls only and based at Broxwood, near Pembridge.

In 1954, she supervised its move to new premises at Lugwardine, built on land purchased by the Sisters of Charity. The school quickly built up a reputation, taking in girls from all over the county, and not only Catholics.

In 1966, the school went through a major change when it decided to become a mixed school taking in boys. The move was encouraged by Sister Catherine who said they would all benefit by the change.

Sister Catherine retired in 1972 and staff, parents and pupils gave her tickets and pocket money to make a tour of the Holy Land.

To mark her 24 years as headteacher of St Mary's, Sister Catherine was presented with the Vatican' gold Bene Merenti 'well-merited' medal.

Later she worked as a missionary in Ethiopia. She came back to St Mary's in 1977 to present prizes and said she was looking for more community work because she 'couldn't stand hanging about'.

Sister Catherine lived in Belmont Road for some time but in recent years she has been staying at her Order's provincial house at Millhill in London.

She died on Saturday and her funeral will take place in London tomorrow.