She soared through wartime skies, raised money for heroes, and sold poppies with a smile at 99, Kate Orchard wasn’t just a veteran; she was a force of nature.
The much-loved Royal Air Force veteran from Cornwall has sadly passed away at the age of 102, her family confirmed. Kate Orchard, from Camborne, lived a life defined by service, spirit, and an unshakable commitment to others.
Her wartime journey began in 1942, when she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Corps in India, working tirelessly on 24-hour watches, plotting aircraft targets and sending crucial signals to the RAF and the Indian Air Force’s air warning systems.
Decades later, her courage and zest for life never dimmed. At the incredible age of 99, she took to the skies once again, this time in a glider, to raise funds for Help for Heroes, proving that adventure knows no age limit.
Later that same year, she was spotted selling poppies outside a supermarket in Camborne, telling passers-by she’d do it “any time”. That simple act, so full of purpose, captured the essence of a woman who never stopped giving.
Kate passed away peacefully on Friday at Beeches Care Home in Hayle, surrounded by love and memories of a life well-lived.
Her son, Bentley, paid tribute to her extraordinary impact:
“Through her dynamic personality, she touched so many people in so many different ways. She was exceptional and an inspiration to the very end.”
And indeed, she was. Kate Orchard’s legacy is stitched into the very fabric of the Armed Forces community, a woman who answered the call, served with honour, and kept giving long after the uniform was folded away.
