Dr Litten passed away at his home in King’s Lynn on 19 October, aged 77 following a period of ill health.
At The QEH his contribution to the Council of Governors was valued greatly as was his role as a member of the Charitable Fund Committee, sharing his considerable charity knowledge and guidance, ensuring monies donated to the QEHKL Charity was spent well for both the benefit of patients and staff.
He was involved in the development of the Trust’s award-winning dementia friendly garden, and dedicated time raising awareness of the Governors and Trust membership at a range of events including regular ‘Meet Your Governor’ sessions and King’s Lynn Pride.
Dr Antonia Hardcastle, Lead Governor at The QEH commented: “The Council of Governors is saddened by the news of his passing. I will miss his intellectual challenge, humour and strong moral compass which has helped guide the whole Council.”
Dr Litten was a highly respected figure at the hospital and in the wider area, having made West Norfolk his home in 2007 with his partner of 46 years, the late Father Anthony Couchman.
He was known as England’s leading funerary historian and was a founder and chairman of the Friends of Hardwick Road Cemetery. He was a published author and researcher, bringing his expertise in both architecture and charitable work to The QEH organisation and many others.
He chaired the St Margaret’s with St Nicholas Ward Forum, contributed as a Trustee of the Lynn Minster Trust, and played an instrumental role in heritage preservation projects throughout the region.
Dr Litten also chaired committees entrusted with the task of caring for the maintenance of Norwich Cathedral and St Edmundsbury Cathedral in addition to sitting on similar committees at Ely Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. He was responsible for steering the completion of the renovation of Portsmouth Cathedral.
He had an unwavering commitment to see a New QEH built and, in standing for election as a public Governor in West Norfolk, vowed: “We now need a new QEH, one which can take us forward into the 21st century thereby maintaining the standards of excellence we are used to and advancing the medical care to meet the needs of all of those in society.
“If elected, I will do my utmost to see that a new hospital is constructed whilst at the same time supporting the staff who have to cope with the challenges placed upon them by the declining state of the existing structure.”
Details of Dr Litten’s funeral arrangements have not yet been confirmed.
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