Scotsman Obituaries: Katie Goodwin, Scottish business owner and voluntary leader

Kathreen Anne Goodwin, known to all as Katie, was born in 1937 in Edinburgh, Scotland to Eva and Reuben Rosen. She was the second daughter among four sisters, her siblings being Davida, Judith and Rachel. The Rosens were a close family and during the Second World War Eva moved to Walkerburn in the Scottish Borders with her sister, and Katie and her cousin Annette, who was the same age, grew very close. In 1945 they returned to Edinburgh.

Diagnosed as dyslexic later in life, Katie had believed she was not academic during her schooldays. Instead, she spent most of her time in sports and Jewish social activities, especially the youth group Habonim.

During her teenage years she contracted scarlet fever and put all of her positive energy into, against medical expectation, fully recovering from this condition.

Katie Goodwin was a supporter of many local and international charities

After leaving school she went to work for the family business, Craighouse Cabinet Works, where her uncles designed and made furniture for their Scottish chain of furniture shops.

In the early 1950s she met the love of her life, Ronald Goodwin, who was from England. Her family members warned her that Ronald was a “wide boy” from London and that she should be careful, but the romance flourished.

Once they were engaged to be married her sisters teased the couple about always hiding up in the attic of the family home, where they could kiss one another.

The Goodwin family are well-kent faces in the business community of Edinburgh due to the long-established Goodwins Fine Jewellery and Silver company, which was founded by Ronald.

Katie became an important part of the family business. Her vision, flair and ability to take risks helped ensure the success of Goodwins down the decades.

When the couple bought their first shop on Rose Street in Edinburgh, Katie organised the displays, served customers and added a certain savoir faire spirit to proceedings. While working in the business her first child arrived, the future bestselling author Sara Sheridan. Soon Katie was simultaneously looking after Sara and helping run the family business, while purchasing and decorating their first family home, Rose Cottage in Fife.

In addition to her success in business, Katie was a major supporter of many local and international charities including WIZO – the Women's International Zionist Organization – which was the largest social welfare organisation in Israel. Katie was a longtime donor to this organisation and as a result of her activism WIZO has annually helped over thousands of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other women deal with the day-to-day trauma of living with domestic abuse in the Middle East. The 100-year-old organisation was one of her many passions, in addition to her beloved family and friends.

Two ladies once asked me myriad questions regarding the size of a plaque, its location, whether their name would be included, and other detailed queries before they would consider donating funds to honour the Jewish founders of the Edinburgh International Festival. While they appeared sceptical, a third lady opened her handbag and wrote a cheque, saying, “Great idea. Good luck!” That lady, as the Book of Proverbs recorded, was more precious than rubies and was of course the indomitable, generous, and formidable Katie Goodwin.

Throughout her long life Katie regularly, rapidly and unexpectedly came to the aid of friends, family and charities to help improve the world. In her faith of Judaism this is known as tikkun olam, a phrase that means to “repair the world” and Katie was a master handywoman whose hardworking hands touched so many lives in positive ways for so long.

For many years Katie helped organise a weekly luncheon club for older folk at Edinburgh’s oldest synagogue. Week after week Katie would join others in feeding those in need of a meal and lending an ear to help improve their social life.

According to her friend and fellow lunch club volunteer Harriet Lyall, “Katie’s life-enhancing presence brought conviviality, wisdom and hospitality to all the lives she touched.”

Long time friend Janet Miller, who with her husband founded the Charlie Miller hairdressing salons, also remembers Katie’s seemingly boundless friendship and generosity. Janet said of Katie: “I loved her no-fuss, just get on with it attitude and her unstoppable energy. She will be greatly missed.”

Katie’s beloved Ronnie, sadly, died in 2023. Goodwins Fine Jewellery and Silver is now nearly 80 years old, and is directed by their sons Ben and Joe.

Katie’s positive attitude and thoughtfulness have been passed down to her children of whom she was so proud, including Sara, Ben and Joe and her beloved grandchildren Molly, Poppie, Louis, Imogen and Isaac.

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