Originally from Yorkshire
Charles and Kathleen Barratt moved to Coventry in 1941 when the then Mr Barratt, aged 30, was appointed Deputy Town Clerk to Frederick Smith. He became Town Clerk in 1946, a position he held until 1966, and was knighted for his services to the city the following year. He played a key role in the city's reconstruction - the Coventry Plan - when the city was being rebuilt after the Second World War. In 1967 he became the Chief Executive Officer of Coventry, retiring in 1969. Sadly, he died not long afterwards on 10 February 1971.
Sir Charles was one of the main influences in giving Coventry a university - the University of Warwick - which opened in 1965. He was also closely involved with the Coventry School of Music and the Sir Charles Barratt Memorial Foundation still helps fund the studies of young musicians.
The couple had two daughters and lived first in Beechwood Avenue, Earlsdon, and then at Kenilworth. Both Sir Charles and Lady Barratt were keen sailors and members of Draycote Sailing Club. She was also a voluntary worker with the British Sailors Society, a charity for seafarers.
Lady Kathleen Barratt was a keen golfer, having started to play at the age of 17 and was still playing when 95. She joined Finham Golf Club in 1955 and was made an honorary member in 1996. She marked her 100th birthday in April 2006 with a party at the club.
She died aged 100 on 21 December 2006, at Kenilworth Manor Nursing Home in Thickthorn Close, Kenilworth, and on 29 December was buried alongside her husband.