Queen of the Council Chamber

The city is mourning the death of 89-year-old Kathie Johnson this week.

Today key figures have paid tribute to the larger-than-life Kathie who achieved so much.

The colourful character, dubbed the "Queen of the council chamber," has been part of city life for decades as politician, mayor, sheriff, alderman and charity tour de force.

But it is for her undaunted drive and whirlwind energy that the nimble pensioner will be remembered.

Her horseback crime-busting efforts on Southampton Common have gone down as city legend, as have her fierce council chamber debates - including one when she kicked a councillor out for eating a doughnut.

Her energies left a lasting mark on the global yachting calendar with the Southampton Boat Show, which she opened in 1969 after more than six years working towards it. The spectacular event now draws more than 120,000 visitors and nets the city around £60m in business.

In 1988 Kathie stunned the city once again by becoming the first sheriff for 139 years to ride the boundaries of Southampton on a horse.

Until her death she was vice president of the Hampshire branch of the British Red Cross, entertaining "old people," as she called them, with tea and piano playing. In 1990 she was awarded an MBE for 50 years service to the organisation.

Kathie was also a governor for no less than 14 Southampton schools, founder and chairman of Southampton and District Multiple Sclerosis Society and a true-blue Conservative who avoided wearing red at all costs.

In fact, Kathie always claimed she was Tory before she could walk.

She was born in 1914 into a large Herefordshire household.

"I was born a little Conservative and I will die an old Conservative," she used to say.

She spent part of the war driving Red Cross ambulances around Plymouth, before moving to Southampton, then as Kathie Greatrex, with her Army major first husband.

He died in the early 50s, and the next year Kathie was elected as a councillor for Banister ward.

And so began a long, completely voluntary (she prided herself on never claiming expenses) relationship with Southampton City Council.

Kathie packed her days full with meetings, and was often woken by calls from constituents with flurries of questions and suggestions.

In 1963 she faced ridicule when she mounted a vigilante patrol of Southampton Common on horseback after some frightening attacks on children.

Undaunted, Kathie crashed around 300 acres of land by herself and eventually 14 men were rounded up by police. She was a ferocious orator, who would gladly tear strips off dithering politicians when required. She was undisputed Queen of the council chamber.

Battling against prejudices and never afraid to speak her mind, she once said: "Women still have to fight for what Mrs Pankhurst got for us I'm sure that we women on the council make up our minds quicker than the men, in spite of what they say."

It was aptly across the council benches that she found love for the second time.

Within weeks of meeting Alderman and former Portsmouth mayor Albert Johnson, he had popped the question and they married at Shirley Baptist Church.

In 1969, for the first few months of her year as mayor, he was by her side as husband - but that summer he became ill and died at the age of 81.

It was a heartbreaking blow after just three years of marriage and meant Kathie never had children.

She was made Honorary Alderman of Southampton in 1974 and in 2000 even had a road named after her.

A year later that was changed, however, when residents decided Kathie Johnson Gardens was too long.

Her response was characteristically blunt: "I hear they want to call it Old Cricket Mews - I don't think it's very suitable but they can name it what they like."

Kathie was a big hitter in the city's political scene right up until her 80s, and visited the Civic Centre three times a week even though she was no longer a councillor.

This year the local heroine was due to celebrate her 90th birthday and already friends were putting together party plans.

News of her sudden death stunned the community.

Trevor Baker, from the Southampton Multiple Sclerosis Society, set up by Kathie, said: "She formed the Southampton group more than 40 years ago, and also set one up in Bournemouth."

He added:"She was a wonderful person who always had a sense of humour. She suffered quite badly with heart problems recently but she kept going. "I saw her on Tuesday this week and she was as lively as ever. She will be missed very much by all the society members."

Patricia McCowen, Hampshire branch president of the British Red Cross, added: "Kathie was extremely active and supportive during her long service with us.

"She raised funds for many projects which, without her drive, would never have succeeded.

"One of her major successes was securing a £20,000 grant in 1990 for a new society vehicle, that's still in the county to this day."

Team Rector for Southampton City Parish, the Rev Ian Johnson, has been charged with organising her funeral but he should not have too many problems.

Kathie left clear details.

Her second husband Albert had his funeral at Portsmouth Cathedral in October 1969 - and Kathie's funeral will mirror his almost exactly.

Southampton mayor Parvin Damani will be asked to take part with a reading, and former city councillors from the time Kathie was mayor will also be involved.

Apart from one hymn, the order of service will be exactly as Albert's was 35 years ago.

The date of the funeral has not yet been set.