The death of Dame Esther Rantzen at the age of 86 has brought great sadness to everyone at the Express. She was a national icon for her campaigning abilities for young and old over many years, and in recent times campaigned with the paper to try and introduce assisted dying legislation.
A legacy of campaigning
Three years ago she went public with the news that she had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, while expressing her determination to change the laws around assisted dying. The former That's Life star used her own circumstances as a springboard to campaign on behalf of others.
While her dying wish, supported by the Express with the Give Us Our Last Rights campaign, has not yet come to pass, Dame Esther succeeded in putting the debate around end of life care back on the table. Campaigners have not yet given up their battle, and the hope remains that her courage will one day be rewarded with a change in the law.
Childline and Silverline founder
Using her terminal diagnosis to campaign for better deaths for others is just one aspect of an extraordinary legacy that encompasses the foundation of both Childline, aimed at protecting the youngest in society from abuse and neglect, and Silverline, which focused on the welfare of older citizens. Through them, she changed countless lives and undoubtedly saved them too.
Her family were absolutely right to say she gave us 'endless capacity for joy.' Express columnist Leo McKinstry wrote how Esther was utterly unique and the entire nation will miss her energy. Chief reporter Giles Sheldrick, who interviewed Esther many times, related how Esther scolded him the first time they met for calling her a national treasure.
