Dame Esther Shares her 82nd Birthday!
Published on 23 June 2022 09:12 AM
Dame Esther Rantzen was a special guest in Age UK Islingtons Lets Get Back Together week to help Islington residents overcome loneliness. The event on Wednesday 22nd June coincided with her 82nd Birthday and was a special edition of a regular monthly Lets Talk Peer Event session hosted by Age UK Islington. The event included lively discussion with Dame Esther on Zoom and shared party food at St Luke’s Community Centre venue.
Dame Esther was among the first to campaign about the crisis of loneliness, which does not just affect people living in Islington or Londoners, it affects people in every town and city in Britain. There are now thought to be 1.2 million lonely older people in the UK, with an estimated 500,000 going five days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone.
At the Age UK Islington event, Dame Esther Rantzen gave a talk about her work campaigning about the prevention of loneliness and gave us the following quote to share, "Thank you to Age UK Islington for sharing my 82nd birthday as part of a special edition of your monthly Let's Talk Peer Event. I really commend the work that you're doing and heartily encourage Islington residents to get in touch with Shamin Noronha, to join in the monthly Let's Talk Peer Event.”
During the event there were some special surprises including a rendition of Happy Birthday sung by Nick Pritchard and further songs including That’s Life. There was also a recorded birthday message from Dame Judi Dench for Dame Esther.
Dr Lucy Pollock, NHS Consultant Geriatrician and author of The Book About Getting Older gave a talk about “old age is something to be celebrated and not avoided.
‘I’ve been so excited to meet Dame Esther Rantzen, one of my heroes since childhood. She’s kind, funny passionate and humane and shows us how being with other people can brighten our lives. Age UK Islington is doing terrific work and I warmly encourage people to take Dame Esther’s advice, contact Shamin Noronha and join the ‘Let’s Talk’ peer events!
Sally Miller, Chief Executive, Age UK Islington explains the aim of Let’s Get Back Together Week, “We’re bringing together Islington residents and neighbours for shared food at fun, social events across the borough. Everyone knows of Dame Esther Rantzen’s tireless work to help people overcome loneliness. We’re very honoured to have been able to share a small part of her 82nd Birthday as part of the week."
Hosted by arts organisations and community centres across Islington, there is something to appeal to all tastes during Let’s Get Back Together week. This is both in terms of the activities planned and also the food! Activities include a cookery demo, bunting-making, an Arsenal Stadium tour and chair-based yoga. Shared food will range from afternoon tea to home-made soup and cooked bread and a sit-down lunch.
As part of the Let’s Get Back Together week last year Age UK Islington client, Ellen, 80yrs old attended an event at Cally Clock Tower Centre. “I only live across the road but had not been there before. I got chatting to other people who live nearby. Since then I have been going to a session every week there. I have only missed one! My son takes me over and we all look at old photos and talk about what used to happen in the past. We have a cup of tea and are well looked after!”
Let’s Get Back Together Week follows Loneliness Awareness Week (13-17 June). Many of us know what loneliness feels like, but it is a very personal emotion and can be the result of different circumstances. Poor health, low income or being an unpaid carer for a partner or family member can be a further barrier to forming social connections and forming an all-important support network. But the reality is that loneliness can affect anyone at any time.