THE FORMER Mayor of Southampton, who was once described as an innocuous lady with a will of iron, is still doing her best for the city - even after her death.

Kathie Johnson MBE, who was also described by the Daily Echo in 1962 as "someone you can't ignore", has left almost £60,000 to local charities in her will.

Dubbed "the Queen of the council chamber", Kathie died on March 10 this year, four months short of her 90th birthday. Her legacies are now being paid out, although her family declined to reveal how much her estate was worth.

One of the charities remembered in her will was Wessex Heartbeat, set to receive £20,000.

Chief Executive Alan Blair described Kathie as "a very special part of the charity's life".

"She was a loyal friend and a much valued supporter," he said.

"We first met Kathie just before her 80th birthday when she was actually in the unit as a patient.

"She was such a lovely lady and from then on we tried to include her as a guest at all our special events.

"She always said when she died she would leave a legacy. That she did was not a surprise but we were surprised at her generosity."

Wessex Heartbeat is currently fundraising for a £3m centre for the training and education of cardiac staff.

"Kathie's donation will be put towards that and we will have a special inscription on a donor wall," said Mr Blair. "Her name will be there in perpetuity."

During her years in Southampton, Kathie, pictured, made a lasting impression. In 1969 she opened the very first Southampton Boat Show. In 1988 she became the first sheriff for 139 years to ride the boundaries of the city on a horse.

Until her death she was vice president of the Hampshire branch of the British Red Cross and was awarded an MBE in 1990 for 50 years of service to the organisation.

She was also governor for 14 Southampton schools and founder and chairman of the Southampton and District Multiple SclerosisSociety.

"Working for charities was Kathie's life interest," said her sister Marian Cox MBE. "She became so involved with so many charities that she wanted them to benefit in her will."

CHARITIES REMEMBERED IN KATHY JOHNSON'S WILL:

Wessex Heartbeat £20,000

RNLI £10,000

Southampton and District Multiple Sclerosis Society £5,000

Southampton and District Federation of Clubs for the Disabled £5,000

Southampton and District Branch of The British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association £2,000

Southampton and District Far East Prisoners of War Association £2,000

Southampton and District Branch of The Burma Star Association £2,000

Southampton and Eastleigh Branch of the Royal Air Force Association £2,000

The Friends of the Church of St Michael the Archangel £2,000

The City of Southampton Central Scout District £2,000

The Southampton Mission to Seafarers Guild £2,000

The Cedar Special School, Nursling £2,000

The Salvation Army Mountbatten Social Centre £1,000

The Southampton Penguin Swimming Club for the Disabled £1,000