Dame Esther Rantzen's deeply personal letter to fans before she died at 86 | 5 News
5 News
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► Dame Esther Rantzen has died aged 86 after years of campaigning for assisted dying with her family saying they had been “so lucky for so long” to have her in their lives.
Dame Rantzen, who became a household name fronting That’s Life!, revealed she didn’t have long to live and was too weak to travel to Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. Her family announced her passing on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to Dame Esther’s “decades of campaigning”, saying she “changed countless lives and gave a voice to people who often went unheard”.
“And I will always admire the characteristic courage and openness with which she spoke about her illness, making us all think about the difficult questions we face at the end of life. My thoughts are with her family and all who loved her," the PM said.
In a letter released after her death, Dame Esther wrote: "Dear Everybody, I am so sorry I cannot send you each individual thanks for the fun, the support and the help you have been to me. I have been immensely lucky in the friendship and the professional advice I have had from you which has enabled me to live such a long and happy life.
She wrote: “Sadly, all good things come to an end, as they say. So, I particularly wanted to say goodbye and thank you so very, very much. Perhaps I will see you eventually, on the other side. I do hope so.”
In revealing her passing, Dame Esther's family remembered the “most wonderful mother" and "cherished grandmother" who will be remembered for her "endless capacity for joy”.
In a statement from her children, Miriam Wilcox, Rebecca Wilcox and Joshua Wilcox, they said: “Her legacy of compassion and understanding will live on in her charities Childline and the Silverline, and through those of us who were lucky enough to love and be loved by her.
“We are grateful she is finally at rest with her beloved husband, Desmond Wilcox, but we will miss her immeasurably. She was our sunshine. We will always remember her endless capacity for joy, her ability to comfort every heartache, her beautiful way with words and her expert guidance in all things.
“She was the most wonderful mother to us three children and a cherished grandmother to her five treasured grandchildren. We have been so lucky for so long, no matter how much time we had with Mum it could be never be enough, but we are so grateful for our lives together."
The statement continued: “Mum’s work with charities and campaigning, particularly for children, older people, and the terminally ill, meant the world to her so thank you to everyone who has written to her, shared their stories with her over the years and worked alongside her. “We hope the humour, ingenuity and audacity she brought to her work may continue to inspire you as it will do us. We kindly ask that we are given privacy and time to grieve.”
Dignity in Dying, which worked with the broadcaster and campaigner to legalise assisted dying, said the country was “closer than ever before” to changing the law.
In a statement, it said: “Dame Esther was a true force of nature whose compassion, tenacity and wit will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt condolences are with her family and loved ones.”
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Dame Esther Rantzen's deeply personal letter to fans before she died at 86 | 5 News
5 News
670 views
► Dame Esther Rantzen has died aged 86 after years of campaigning for assisted dying with her family saying they had been “so lucky for so long” to have her in their lives.
Dame Rantzen, who became a household name fronting That’s Life!, revealed she didn’t have long to live and was too weak to travel to Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. Her family announced her passing on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to Dame Esther’s “decades of campaigning”, saying she “changed countless lives and gave a voice to people who often went unheard”.
“And I will always admire the characteristic courage and openness with which she spoke about her illness, making us all think about the difficult questions we face at the end of life. My thoughts are with her family and all who loved her," the PM said.
In a letter released after her death, Dame Esther wrote: "Dear Everybody, I am so sorry I cannot send you each individual thanks for the fun, the support and the help you have been to me. I have been immensely lucky in the friendship and the professional advice I have had from you which has enabled me to live such a long and happy life.
She wrote: “Sadly, all good things come to an end, as they say. So, I particularly wanted to say goodbye and thank you so very, very much. Perhaps I will see you eventually, on the other side. I do hope so.”
In revealing her passing, Dame Esther's family remembered the “most wonderful mother" and "cherished grandmother" who will be remembered for her "endless capacity for joy”.
In a statement from her children, Miriam Wilcox, Rebecca Wilcox and Joshua Wilcox, they said: “Her legacy of compassion and understanding will live on in her charities Childline and the Silverline, and through those of us who were lucky enough to love and be loved by her.
“We are grateful she is finally at rest with her beloved husband, Desmond Wilcox, but we will miss her immeasurably. She was our sunshine. We will always remember her endless capacity for joy, her ability to comfort every heartache, her beautiful way with words and her expert guidance in all things.
“She was the most wonderful mother to us three children and a cherished grandmother to her five treasured grandchildren. We have been so lucky for so long, no matter how much time we had with Mum it could be never be enough, but we are so grateful for our lives together."
The statement continued: “Mum’s work with charities and campaigning, particularly for children, older people, and the terminally ill, meant the world to her so thank you to everyone who has written to her, shared their stories with her over the years and worked alongside her. “We hope the humour, ingenuity and audacity she brought to her work may continue to inspire you as it will do us. We kindly ask that we are given privacy and time to grieve.”
Dignity in Dying, which worked with the broadcaster and campaigner to legalise assisted dying, said the country was “closer than ever before” to changing the law.
In a statement, it said: “Dame Esther was a true force of nature whose compassion, tenacity and wit will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt condolences are with her family and loved ones.”
► Have you subscribed to 5 News?: http://bit.ly/5NewsSub
► Follow 5 News on Twitter to keep up to date with the latest news - Twitter: 5_News
Message us on Facebook to share your opinion - Facebook: c5News
See our latest pictures and videos on Instagram - Instagram: c5news
► About 5 News: We bring you the stories that matter to you, from around the world and across the UK.
🎥 We post daily playlists with the biggest news of the day, interviews, special reports and investigations.
📺 Catch us on TV on Channel 5 every weekday 5-6pm
📱 Get in touch with us on WhatsApp at +44 7555 500 501
🎧 Listen to "How Did We Get Here? Explaining The News" wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/how-did-we-get-...
Our flagship, hour-long programme at 5pm is watched on Channel 5 by up to a million viewers, with regular news updates throughout the day.
ITN changed the TV news landscape when it launched 5 News in 1997, producing Five News for nine years before winning the contract to supply news to Channel 5 again from 2012.