Search for missing much-loved Newcastle chaplain who appeared on TV series Geordie Hospital continues
Searches to find Katherine Watson, who has been missing from the Newcastle area since early Thursday afternoon, continue.
Often known as Katie, she became a recognisable community figure after appearing in the TV series Geordie Hospital, which focused on her work as a chaplain at the RVI and Freeman. As thousands have shared the initial police appeal to find her, many who experienced her care and support at Newcastle Hospitals have expressed heartfelt messages of hope that she is found safe soon.
One retired doctor who worked with her at the hospital said on social media: "For many of us at Newcastle Hospitals she was our rock during the worst parts of the Covid Pandemic." Another described her as "one of the most wonderful women I have had the pleasure of knowing".
A Royal Military Police veteran who served in conflict zones such as in the Balkans and Northern Ireland, she charmed viewers across the North East and beyond during the television programme - and many of those viewers have also expressed their sadness that she is missing and hope she is found safely.
Ahead of the first series of Channel 4's Geordie Hospital, she spoke movingly about the role of hospital chaplains to ChronicleLive and said: "We try to help in so many ways, from helping get hold of food bank vouchers for someone or baptising a baby which might be likely to die in a few hours or moving a little one down to the chapel of rest - there really is so much in our remit."
Her family and the police continue to be concerned for her welfare and searches to find her remain underway. Katherine, 50, is a white woman, around 5ft 6ins in height, of slim build, and has short light grey hair.
She was last seen in the Heaton Road area of Newcastle at around 1pm on Thursday September 19. She has links to Heaton and Jesmond but may have travelled further afield.
Northumbria Police has appealed police to the public for information on her whereabouts to ensure she is safe and well. Katherine was last seen wearing a green hat, a back pack, with dark trousers and a dark hooded top. She has a number of tattoos on her arms, as well as a military tattoo on her chest.
Katherine, or anyone who knows her whereabouts, is asked to contact police by sending a direct message on social media, using the live chat function or report forms on our website, or by calling 101 quoting reference:NP-20240919-0717.