Hilda Kate Lovell-Smith

Hilda Kate Lovell-Smith (10 July 1886 – 3 February 1973), generally known as Kitty Lovell-Smith, was a New Zealand businesswoman and community organiser.

Early life Lovell-Smith was born at Riccarton, in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1886. She was the third daughter of ten children born to Mary Jane (Jennie) Cumberworth, a former teacher, and her husband, William Sidney Smith, a printer. Both her parents were good friends of Kate Sheppard, a leading New Zealand suffragist, and Lovell-Smith was given "Kate" as her middle name in honour of Sheppard.

Lovell-Smith attended Riccarton School for her primary school education and was home-schooled as a teenager. She also joined the local women’s unemployment committee, the Canterbury Women’s Club, the United Nations Association of New Zealand and CORSO.

In the 1960s, Lovell-Smith edited the journal of the New Zealand branch of the Pan-Pacific and South-East Asia Women’s Association. She also continued her work with the National Council of Women, joining the executive of the Christchurch branch and chairing a number of committees. She was president of the branch from 1951 to 1955, and in 1956 was appointed a dominion life member. She continued to attend National Council of Women meetings until over the age of 80.

Lovell-Smith died at her family home in Riccarton on 3 February 1973.