THE
P RTAL
November 2012
Page 11
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane meet
Catherine Utley
She has an infectious laugh and a youthful disposition. We met her in a quiet café in South London.
Catherine Utley is a pleasure to be with, and enthusiastic about the Ordinariate. She is the newly appointed
Fund-Raising Co-ordinator for the Friends of the Ordinariate. As such, we have asked her to write for The
Portal about the Friends and about her work.
an Ecumenical
upbringing
One of four children, her
father was a devout High Church
Anglican. Mum is a Catholic. All
four children were brought up
Catholics. Both her parents were
serious about their religion. The
children received an Ecumenical
upbringing. Catherine went to
Mass on Sundays, but attended
Anglican schools.
at home with the
Anglican Church
went to a training post on the
East Grinstead Courier. She was
there for two and a half years
learning the trade reporting
from Courts, the Police and
Fire Service. The first piece she
had published contained an
awful misprint about a local
worthy. She still laughs about
it, an infectious laugh that is as
engaging as she is herself.
“Londoner’s Diary”
She moved to work on
“Londoner’s Diary” on the
Evening Standard, and then to
the BBC World Service at Bush
House, doing many other things
along the way.
Catherine’s father was blind
from youth, so he had to be
delivered to and from church.
One or other of his children
would do this and sometimes stay for the worship.
Catherine told us, “I used to like going to church with World Service
my father. I am at home with the Anglican Church and
Mention of the World Service conjures up images of
its heritage.”
travel and excitement; but for Catherine it was mainly
work in England. She worked in the News Room
Godolphin and Latymer School
writing stories on politics. It was challenging work
She attended Godolphin and Latymer School in explaining things to people in what would be their
Hammersmith where she developed a love for the second language, and about a political system with
Authorised Version of the Bible, the Book of Common which they were barely familiar.
Prayer and the Coverdale Psalms.
She could be speaking to a man on a camel in the
a family of journalists
desert, or someone in the middle of New Delhi.
Catherine comes from a family of journalists. Her Catherine explained “We had to explain complex
father was Deputy Editor of the Daily Telegraph, her situations to a diverse audience, an audience that had
brother is at the Daily Mail, and she worked for the little knowledge or experience of life or politics in the
BBC World Service for twenty nine years.
UK.”
For two of these years she was in Northern Ireland,
partly for the World Service, and partly for Radio
Ulster. At the World Service she did UK affairs. “I
did love the World Service and was attached to Bush
House.”
people like to talk
As a journalist, one learns very quickly that people
like to talk. “When dealing with the bereaved, I was
nervous. But I learned that a simple question often
brings a long answer.” Catherine continued, “People
want to talk about their departed loved one. This is
East Grinstead Courier
especially true when parents are mourning the death
Catherine and her sister live with Catherine’s of a child. They want the world to know. Let them talk,
nineteen year old daughter. After “A” Levels, Catherine let them open up.”