St Mary's & St Michael's Notices

Use back button on browser to return to websites

Kathleen Cadle 1917 – 2009

Mrs Kathleen Cadle, widow of Stoney Stanton’s former Rector, Rev’d H.E.Cadle died in July. Below is an edited version of the tribute given at the funeral.

Kathleen Cadle. has been such a well –loved person in St.  Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton that her death, at the age of 92 seems like the end of an era. She arrived in the village in 1963,  with her husband, the new Rector, causing one of the congregation at the induction to comment. ‘He’s got ever such a young wife!’. And so he had. Mrs.Cadle, as we always knew her, was younger than her husband, only 46 herself at the time and appearing even younger, brimmed with energy. She was at the time working as a teacher at Desford - her husband had been headmaster at Newbold Verdon. They had met through a shared interest in hockey. Kathleen was captain of the local team, he a hockey referee and trainer. After one memorable match he offered her a lift in his car. Unfortunately he had removed the back to the passenger seat and Kathleen found herself tipped backwards into the vehicle. Gales of laughter would inevitably have followed. She had a wicked sense of humour and could giggle like a schoolgirl at the silly things of life. She & Harry Cadle were married at Thornton Methodist Church , and left under an arch of hockey-sticks.

As the Rector’s wife, Kathleen threw herself into the life of the parish. She ran the Sunday School, was Enrolling member for the Mothers’ Union , introduced the Women’s World Day of Prayer into the village, organised fetes and other fundraisers. The Ladies’ Fellowship typified her thoughtful approach.. Aware that there were many single ladies in the village who could not belong to the Mothers’ Union , she began an organisation which was to run for many years. She and her husband were generous in their use of the Rectory garden for events, a garden which was always beautifully cared for in her day. And, of course, they were to secure the ground and give to the village the Church Hall  - made from an un-needed pre-fab, which is still in use.

She and the Rector moved into a purpose-built Rectory, the Victorian house next door being deemed unfit for modern use. But before all this work started there was one hiccup, one hurdle to get over, which Kathleen used to recount with great hilarity. You see she was not actually brought up as an Anglican, she was raised a Methodist - a fact which was proudly announced by her mother to one of the village ladies at the Rector’s induction. And in those days it presented a problem.

One of the people whom Mrs. Cadle greatly admired was Cicely Williams, the wife of the then Bishop of Leicester , and it was on a visit to them for tea that the dreadful problem emerged. ‘Then my husband must confirm you’ declared Mrs.Williams, and the tea things were put aside as preparations for the event were made in the Bishop’s private chapel. but even then there was a problem - ‘a veil - you must have a veil’ announced the Bishop’s wife, and without more ado she grabbed a lace tray-cloth and arranged it on Mrs.Cadle’s head. Problem over.

Cicely Williams, as I mentioned was a  heroine in Kathleen’s eyes. She was a great mountaineer, and had written an account of her life ‘Bishop’s wife, but still myself’ which was a book much cherished in the Cadle household. The same might have been said for Kathleen. ‘Rector’s wife, but still myself’ - she certainly lived her life by that standard. She loved games, sport, anything competitive. Visitors to her house were encouraged into clock golf, card and board games, she took friends swimming and played badminton at the Community Centre. Darts, folk-dancing, walking and croquet were another great pleasure and she even, at one time marked out a badminton court on the Rectory drive-way. There were many happy holidays with friends over the years, and while in the village they organised a memorable parish trip to Oberammergau . Behind the scenes, it was Kathleen who was responsible for the tradition of beautiful flower-arranging which lives on to this day in the church. She took others with her to join the flower arranging class at Croft, and was quick to give gentle encouragement  to those who worked at St.Michael’s, never failing to comment on their efforts.

Kathleen loved music, she loved to sing, and after Mr.Cadle’s retirement she was soon back at St.Michael’s, in the church choir every Sunday. She and Mr.Cadle had moved to Elmesthorpe for their retirement, but he was always happy to return to take services, right to the end of his life, and they both welcomed a bevy of friends for a big party every year, just after Christmas to celebrate their wedding anniversary with them.

Kathleen herself continued to take a full part in the life of St.Michael’s, becoming close friends with Rev’d Lyner and his wife. And will any of the regular Thursday morning congregation forget the ‘Hallelujah Chariot’ arriving with Miss Stevens, Joyce Statham and Mr.Wilkinson - Kathleen’s little car bringing them all to church.

Kathleen Cadle, a delightful companion, great fun, competitive and yet encouraging, friend to so many, she has touched all our lives, and has been much missed as the infirmity of old age took its toll. She gave to us all, the chance to  see a profoundly Christian life, well lived. The example she gave us is better than a thousand sermons. Hers was a life full of the fruits of the Spirit of which Paul tells us, full of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness and self-control.

Her funeral took place in St.Michael’s Church, on 28^th July 2009 . She will be remembered with great affection by those who knew her.

Back to St Mary BA Homepage

Back to St Michael's Croft Homepage