02/10/2026
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Esther Rantzen.
Esther was a long-time friend and supporter of the Anne Frank Trust. In 1991, she and her late husband Desmond Wilcox visited one of our very first Anne Frank exhibitions in Brighton. In 2007, she co-hosted our Anne Frank Awards ceremony at the Hackney Empire, and in more recent years she was our keynote speaker at one of our Annual Lunches.
Esther achieved so much in her lifetime to make other people's lives better - through ChildLine, The Silver Line, and decades of fearless campaigning. Everyone at AFT who had the privilege of meeting her remembers her warmth and generosity.
Reflecting on Dame Esther's passing, our Honorary Vice President, Daniel Mendoza OBE, said: "Dame Esther dedicated so much of her life to helping others. She achieved an extraordinary amount professionally at a time when the glass ceiling for women was still firmly in place, and she used that success to make a difference to countless lives through her charitable work. The Anne Frank Trust was blessed to have her support, and I will always remember her warmth, generosity and determination to make the world a better place."
Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this time.
