Broadcaster and author Jonathan Dimbleby, 82, has bid farewell to his role as chair of the cancer charity founded in his father's name at a special event at St Thomas' Hospital in London. The gathering on Wednesday, September 23, marked 60 years of pioneering cancer support, bringing together senior NHS and charity figures, trustees, supporters including actress Joanna Lumley, 80, and people whose lives have been touched by the charity's work.
A 'big decision' to step down
Speaking exclusively to the Express, Jonathan admitted stepping down was "quite a big decision". "I'm actually stepping down towards the end of this year," he said. "My successor, Professor Arnie Purushotham, is completely wonderful. He's a very distinguished oncologist, also very renowned more broadly in the field."
The Richard Dimbleby Cancer Fund was established in 1966, following the death of Jonathan's father, legendary BBC broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, on December 22, 1965, aged just 52 after a battle with testicular cancer.
Breaking a taboo
While it is common for well-known faces to share their cancer journey these days, in 1965 it was not the done thing. Jonathan recalls: "It was quite late in the day and it made a huge impact. It was all over every newspaper front page. The medical journals were really thrilled that he had broken a taboo - because it was a taboo."
"People tended to think that somehow cancer came from hell and it was not something that was to be discussed because it suggested terrible crimes in the distant past and so forth. I mean it's all ludicrous now. The big C, it was sometimes called."
Instead of sending flowers to Richard's funeral, members of the public sent small donations in brown envelopes, raising the modern equivalent of around £10 million. The money was used to establish the fund and, for Jonathan, counting the donations became a way of dealing with his grief. "It was actually very good for us because it filled the space of pain," he said.
Punching above its weight
While the charity has evolved over the decades, alongside advances in cancer treatment, its central purpose has remained the same: supporting people affected by cancer, including patients, their families and carers. One of its most recent initiatives is the Cancer Care Map, a nationwide service helping people find cancer support and resources in their area.
Jonathan is characteristically modest about the charity's achievements. "One of the great things about being a small charity is you can do big things quickly," he said. "I don't like saying we're proud of what we've done, but it is the case that I'm very happy to say that we have punched above our weight."
"I think we make a really valuable contribution nationally now through the Cancer Care Map to providing crucial support and information, pointing people in the direction of resources. It's very carefully monitored and very carefully audited," he smiled.
But it was the personal significance of the charity's 60th anniversary that moved him most. When it was pointed out that the charity has now existed for longer than his father was alive, he became emotional. "I think he'd have been very pleased," he reflected. "Because his whole life was dedicated to providing information and our focus has always been on making lives better for people living with cancer. And that meant a combination of information and support services, and that's guided us all the way through to our present incarnation."
Jonathan Dimbleby is Chair of the Richard Dimbleby Cancer Fund. For 60 years the charity has funded pioneering work in care, research and service delivery to help provide better support for people living with and affected by cancer. Its focus today is the website Cancer Care Map, a UK wide directory of over 6,500 care and support services.
