Catherine Christian was born as Mamie Mühlenkamp in 1901 of a German father and English mother. She attended Croydon High School for Girls between 1911 and 1920, during which time she changed her name, taking her mother’s and father’s forenames to become Catherine Christian. She became involved with Girl Guides while still at school and the enthusiasm never left her. She edited The Guide during WW2, contributed to The Guider and wrote many Guide stories for girls, under her own name as well as ‘Patience Gilmour’. Harriet and Harriet Takes the Field show Guiding from an adult perspective.

Catherine Christian died in 1985.