Goodbye Dame Esther

It is very sad that Dame Esther Rantzen has passed away. My sincere condolences to all her family.
She certainly came across as a lovely caring lady. I remember looking forward to watching 'That's Life' every week.
Greyfur16. Yes, I do happen to remember something about her connection with Saville years ago. How true it was though, I don't know.

God bless you Esther,such amazing work with childline,rest in peace lovely lady.

This is a condolence thread, not a thread to discuss infidelity, alleged unpleasantness, etc. If posters want to discuss such matters then surely they need to start separate threads. I find bringing these things up here somewhat distasteful.

Great idea, oldfrill. I hadn’t heard of it.

Frogoet

Probably best to clothe it all in a shroud of mystery.
There is a lot underneath the surface that can’t be said today.
But it’s a mistake to chart the glories without much doubt

Exactly what this means I have no idea.
I dislike its «nudge, nudge, wink, wink» tone

Can somebody please get GNHQ to change this title to ‘Goodbye Dame Esther’ ?
« Good by Dame Esther»:sounds like the title of a book.

Probably best to clothe it all in a shroud of mystery.
There is a lot underneath the surface that can’t be said today.
But it’s a mistake to chart the glories without much doubt

MT62

What is silver line? Is it for old uns?

It's a phone line run by Age UK to help combat loneliness in over 55s.

What is silver line? Is it for old uns?

A great woman who lived her life well. I have no interest in gossip.

My memory of her was when she introduced the children Sir Nicholas Winton saved
My daughter volunteered for Childline and it set her on the path to her current social work role!
Esther was a force to be reckoned with and will be missed

She was a force to be reckoned with, someone who got things done and improved the lives of many through her initiatives.

RIP Dame Esther

And silver line🙏💔

I lost the whole of my family in 2016, for the first time in my life I was alone. I was terrified of becoming isolated and phoned the Silver Line. The person I spoke to asked me if I would like a telephone friend, a phone call once a week and I said yes. I gave my details but heard nothing. I tried several times but nothing happened so I sent a donation and I actualy had a call from Dame Esther to tell me I was'nt suitable. How suitable to you have to be when you have lost everything and you are looking for a life line. I was in my 70's at the time am now 81 and I've come through. She was not that nice, she knew about Jimmy Saville and did nothing. I've got nothing good to say about her.

I am sad. I was in the same year as her at school. She was lovely, clever, warm hearted and funny. RIP.

It’s terrible off you to add negative comments at this time

RIP Esther. Whatever your sins you did a great deal of good. A pity assisted dying was not achieved before your death but I am grateful you supported it.

I heard their nanny for their first child Emily on a phone in this morning. She said she was aged twenty when she started, that two of Desmond Wilcox children from his first marriage lived with them. They were older teenagers close to her in age . She described a happy family, who included her in family life

I had never heard about any hoo ha over Desmond Wilkox,so i cant comment on that,but i realise theres 2 sides to every story.

Yes Mollygo we know,you're stating the obvious.Esther was a nice lady,and did a lot for others through her shows.RIP Esther.

I met her by chance many years ago at an outdoor event. My daughter, who was a toddler at the time, had a big helium balloon that she wasn't quite sure of, and tried to give it to another little girl of roughly the same age. That little girl was Esther Rantzen's daughter, Emily. It was a shock for me to see a famous face bearing down on me as I was crouching between the girls, but Esther was lovely!

Boomer1947

Are we to just gloss over the hurt and distress she and Desmond Wilcox caused to his first wife.? A real lady does not climb into bed with another woman's husband.

I don’t know what the circumstances were, neither do you, so won’t leap to judgement.

Remarkable woman, smashed the glass ceiling, achieved incredible things for many, many people.

Bitterness is not appropriate on a condolence thread, Boomer1947.

She was one hell of a woman. I hope her death was peaceful and pain free. 🙏

She was a wonderful person who helped many people by creating Child Line and other support services. R.I.P Esther Rantzen ❤😥

What is there to defend?