Our Ambassadors

Ann was diagnosed with dementia in October 2005 at the age of 52. Since her diagnosis, Ann has moved into sheltered accommodation where she gives talks to staff and residents about her experiences of dementia as well as being a very active volunteer travelling around the country to raise awareness and understanding of the condition.

Ann took part in Alzheimer's Disease International conference in London 2012 and has been involved in the Champion Group for Dementia Friendly Communities, as part of the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia.

In July 2012 Ann was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bolton for her 'outstanding contribution to healthcare' and in 2013 was awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List. 

Baroness Browning is a former Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party. She was MP for Tiverton for 18 years, before in 2010 being raised to the peerage as Baroness Browning of Whimple in the County of Devon. During her political career, she has focused on a range of health issues including autism and dementia. In Government, she served in various roles including as Minister for Crime Prevention.

Broadcaster and journalist, Angela Rippon has worked in news and current affairs for over 40 years. She presents BBC One’s flagship consumer programme Rip-Off Britain and appeared in the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing.  

Angela has supported Alzheimer's Society for several years and has spoken of her experiences caring for her mother who had dementia.  

Angela was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to dementia care in her role as development lead with Dementia Friendly Communities.  

Recently, Angela hosted Alzheimer’s Society Annual Conference and in November 2024 backed our call to make dementia training mandatory for the social care workforce in England. Whilst supporting this campaign Angela said: ‘I was a carer for my late mum, Edna, who lived with vascular dementia. After mum’s diagnosis, I saw the difference the right care and understanding of dementia can make. It helped to preserve Mum’s dignity, made her feel loved and that she was still a valued part of our family.’ 

Arlene Phillips is a world-renowned, award-winning choreographer and theatre director, honoured with an Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for Guys and Dolls in 2024. Arlene cared for her father when he developed Alzheimer's disease and has spoken of the difficulties faced by the person with dementia and their carers. She was awarded a Damehood in 2021 for her services to dance and charity, including her support of Alzheimer’s Society.

Determined to raise awareness of dementia, Arlene has fronted many of Alzheimer’s Society's campaigns and fundraising activities since becoming an ambassador in 2012.  

She joined us to deliver an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for the Government to honour dementia commitments and appeared at a special Dementia Action Week event in Parliament in 2023. Whilst attending the event Arlene said, ‘Sadly, like hundreds of thousands of families across the UK, I’ve seen the devastation caused by dementia, while caring for my father. Earlier, more accurate diagnosis is essential for people to be potentially eligible for the exciting new treatments coming down the line for early-stage Alzheimer’s, and for everyone affected to get the vital help and support they need.’ 

Avnish Goyal CBE

Avnish Goyal CBE qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand in 1991 after graduating from Newcastle University with an Honours degree in Accounting and Finance. He is the Chair of industry-leading care provider, Hallmark Care Homes which he founded with his brothers in 1997. Over the last 23 years the company has won numerous awards for delivering outstanding care as well as national awards for building some of the best care homes in the country.  

In 2010, Avnish set up the Hemraj Goyal Foundation in memory of his late father, supporting charities on issues such as FGM, menstrual dignity, empowerment of women and education of children from disadvantaged backgrounds both in the UK and abroad. He is proud to be the Chair of Care England, the largest trade association for the care sector and the founding Trustee and now Patron of The Care Workers' Charity.

Anita Goyal MBE 

Anita Goyal MBE is the Chair and trustee of The Hemraj Goyal Foundation, and the Hallmark Foundation. In 2021 Anita was invested with an MBE in Her Majesty’s New Year Honours List for services to Diversity and Female Empowerment. She is an award-winning philanthropist, community champion and author of Voices from Punjab and Voices from Gujarat. She is the Vice President of Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry in the UK (WICCI) and Chair of the care sector fundraising ball in Championing Social Care.

Anita is a shareholder of the family business – Hallmark Care homes and is a passionate ambassador of the company. Prior to this, Anita spent twenty years teaching science and was an Assistant Headteacher. Anita completed her MA in Special and Inclusive Education and is now pioneering personal development workshops in schools across the UK. She is a member of the advisory panel for Regent College London and the Khalsa Academies Trust.

Internationally renowned actor Carey Mulligan was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2024 for her services to drama. Recipient of a British Academy Film Award and nominated for the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Maestro, Carey continues to be recognised for excellence within the film industry.

Carey's support of Alzheimer’s Society is inspired by her grandmother, known as Nans, who had Alzheimer’s disease. In her Ambassador role, Carey has been a powerful voice for people affected by dementia, using her platform to support many of our campaigns and events.    

She has participated in Memory Walks, visited Alzheimer’s Society services, been a keynote speaker at major conferences, including the United Nations in New York, and raised awareness of dementia and the work of Alzheimer’s Society in media interviews.  

In July 2016 Chris was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia when she was 60 years old, following a couple of minor strokes.

Chris is actively involved with Alzheimer’s Society, speaking at various national conferences. Chris has chaired the National Dementia Action Alliance and she has participated in many projects across the organisation including co-producing ‘Bring Dementia Out’ to help LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) people benefit from dementia awareness and services – an innovation project which received a People Award nomination. Chris and her partner have also co-produced a new learning and development course for Alzheimer’s Society. Chris was appointed to the Board of Trustees in October 2022.

A diagnosis of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease at 51 years of age has not stopped Chris from leading a full and active life and, with the support of his wife Jayne, he speaks regularly at conferences and events nationally and internationally about his experience of living with dementia and the support needed to live the lives they wish.

Chris is a board member of Dementia Alliance International, a dementia research champion, a peer reviewer for MSNAP and a member of the Society's Service User Review Panel for north Wales. Both Chris and Jayne are Dementia Champions and run Dementia Friends information sessions as a team. In just over a year, Chris and Jayne have created over 300 Dementia Friends across north Wales. Chris actively campaigns for the rights of younger people with dementia and their specific needs, particularly about the suitability of most residential settings for the younger person.

Chris is Executive Director UK at QBE and he has been involved with Alzheimer’s Society since 2015. He joined the insurance industry in 1993 and is the chairman of our insurance board – Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) which is raising 10 million for dementia research and support services through events, corporate partnerships and individual donations. Inspired by his grandmother who had dementia, Chris has been instrumental in establishing the IUAD board and driving forward the campaign. To date, the campaign has raised over £8 million.

Dame Denise is a former British Ambassador to Mexico and Spain where she devoted a good deal of time to the plight of the many elderly British citizens living there. Now retired from the FCO, Denise is a member of the Board of OFQUAL and of the NHS Pay Review Body as well as a Director of HSBC Bank plc, among many other interests. Her mother had Alzheimer's disease.

David is a comedian, author and broadcaster. His Dad, Colin, lived with Pick’s Disease for several years and sadly died in January 2022. Colin’s dementia was the subject of David’s stage show My Family: Not the Sitcom and the Channel 4 documentary The Trouble with Dad.

David became an Ambassador in 2017 and most recently supported our partnership with the Football Association as well as our Behind Closed Doors campaign and film.  

Speaking in October 2024, David said: ‘Dementia takes an incredible toll on the families and carers around the person living with the condition. I’ve seen people lock themselves away because they didn’t know what else to do. They were scared. Dementia is scary, but I think the only way to deal with that fear is by talking about it, sharing what you and your family members are going through and by trying to dispel myths about it.’ 

Lord Blunkett was MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough from 1987 until 2015, following which he was elevated to the Lords. As an MP, he served as Home Secretary, and he previously served as Shadow Secretary of State for Health from 1992 until 1994. He has been a long-time supporter of Alzheimer's Society, particularly the local Alzheimer's Society in Sheffield.

Elaine, Baroness Murphy of Aldgate MB ChB, MD, PhD, FRCPsych, is a politically independent member of the House of Lords. She was formerly Foundation Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of London and the first chair in the subject in the UK.

She also later held management posts in the NHS and was Chair of the North East London Strategic Health Authority. Elaine was the Chief Medical Officer’s personal advisor in her field and a UK advisor in mental health to the WHO. She takes a special interest in mental health and social care in the House of Lords. 

In her spare time she researches local and social history and has recently taken up an honorary position at Kings College London to continue her studies on 18th and 19th century poor law in London.

Fiona Phillips is a television presenter and Daily Mirror columnist. As an Ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society she has frequently spoken about her mother and father who both had Alzheimer's disease. Fiona is now living with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease herself.  

Fiona is a long-term campaigner and advocate of the rights of all those affected by dementia and has championed Alzheimer’s Society by fronting appeals and TV programmes and hosting events.

In speaking about being diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease and her experience of taking part in clinical trials at University College Hospital in London, Fiona is raising awareness of both the signs and symptoms of dementia and how people can take part in vital dementia research.  

On World Alzheimer’s Day 2023 Fiona said: ‘It’s not just funding for a cure that’s being sought but simply treatments that prolong quality of life. I’m on a drug trial with University College Hospital in London myself; researchers desperately need more funding and if me speaking out about it concentrates minds, then all the better.’ 

Gareth Locke-Locke is a businessman and TV personality, best known for starring in Made in Chelsea alongside his husband Ollie Locke-Locke.

Gareth was a teenager when his mum, Margaret, was diagnosed at just 54 years old with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Margaret was a entrepreneur who launched and ran her own recruitment agency – Prime Appointments. Prime Appointments have since gone on to raise over £250k over the last seven years for Alzheimer’s Society.

Passionate about raising awareness, Gareth has supported a number of Alzheimer’s Society campaigns such as Memory Walk, our Brand adverts and more recently Dementia Action Week, where he spoke at length with ITV News to share his story in hopes of helping others. 

Heather was 51 when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and she has spoken openly about her experience as a younger person living with dementia, including taking part in a number of media interviews for Alzheimer's Society. Based in Derby, she was an IT consultant who then moved into teaching. Alzheimer's disease eventually forced her to stop working. She participated in a dementia trial at University College Hospital looking at the early stages of dementia, tracking how the condition progresses.

In December 2012, Hilary was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Hilary spoke out about her experiences of living with dementia to world health ministers at the 2013 London G8 dementia summit and met with David Cameron. Hilary is involved in the Research Network and has been appointed as the representative for England on the European Working Group for People with Dementia and currently is Vice-Chair of the group. After speaking at the World Dementia Council meeting in October 2014, Hilary was invited to become a full member of the Council, becoming the first person with dementia to hold this position.

Ian Sherriff BEM is the Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia at the University of Plymouth. His work on dementia is recognised both nationally and internationally. He is Chair of the Prime Minister’s Rural Dementia Group, Chair of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Air Transport Group, is a member of the Prime Minister’s Challenge Group for Dementia and Chairs a global group for dementia. Ian is leading an Alzheimer’s Europe Ukrainian dementia programme and is also co-leading dementia programmes in Zambia and Nigeria. Ian is an active Member of the British Standards Institute (BSI) and the International Standards Organisation. 

He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019 for his work on dementia. 
 

Sir Jonathan Pryce CBE is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning British actor of the stage and screen. For his performance as Pope Francis, in the hit Netflix film The Two Popes, Jonathan was nominated for the 2020 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, in addition to receiving BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations in the same category.

More recently he has portrayed Prince Phillip in the acclaimed Netflix series The Crown and starred in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses where his character, former agent David Cartwright, developed dementia.  

Sir Jonathan is a keen campaigner for the rights and care of people affected by dementia, and has attended Parliamentary receptions to champion our work, as well supporting vital fundraising through our annual Forget Me Not Appeal.

On becoming an Ambassador Jonathan said, ‘I’ve witnessed first-hand the effects of dementia on my own family. Having long supported the work of Alzheimer’s Society, I’m honoured to become an official Ambassador, which I do in honour of my late aunt.’ 

Jo Brand is a leading British comedian, actor and writer. She is a former psychiatric nurse, working with dementia patients for over 10 years, gaining first-hand experience of caring for people with dementia.  

Jo has supported the charity for several years, including signing up to become one of England's first Dementia Friends in an initiative launched by Alzheimer’s Society in 2013, attending events, and headlining a virtual comedy night to help raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Society Joke’s on You, Dementia! in 2021. 

Joy, together with her husband Tony, is a committed campaigner for Alzheimer’s Society and our Dementia Friends programme, regularly speaking out on her own experiences of living with dementia. Joy was the face of 2014's Manchester Memory Walk and is a passionate proponent of our dementia friendly communities initiative and is a fantastic example of how life doesn't have to stop when dementia begins.

The 2014 Dementia Champion winner at the Society’s Dementia Friendly Communities Awards, Joy was also one of the main speakers at the Dementia 2015 Conference. 

Oscar-winning screenwriter, author, actor and director, Julian Fellowes is best known to TV viewers as the writer of the critically acclaimed drama series Downton Abbey. He is an ardent advocate of the issues and causes affecting older people and as such, is a dedicated supporter of the Society.

Lord Fellowes brings a huge range of experience and passion to the organisation. In 2011 he hosted the launch of our Dementia Research Programme Drug Discovery at the House of Lords and continues to support our cause both in front of and behind the scenes. 

Dr Kamel Hothi OBE is an international motivational speaker and life coach. She is an ex-banker with more than 40 years’ experience and has been an architect of numerous initiatives that have shaped the banking industry. She now sits on several boards including Lloyds of London ESG Committee, The Queens Commonwealth Trust and a is Non-Executive Director for TLC Lions supporting over 300 companies on their inclusion, wellbeing and leadership development. 

Kamel is ranked in the top 100 most influential black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders in the UK and was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to promoting diversity in banking.

Dr Karan Jutlla is Dementia Lead for the Institute of Health at the University of Wolverhampton.

Her specialist role at Wolverhampton is designed to provide leadership for the development and delivery of dementia care curricula and research, promoting the development of a culturally competent healthcare workforce skilled in dementia care.

As an academic, Karan’s research interests are in the challenge of dementia care, particularly within ethnic minority groups and she is passionate about achieving cultural inclusivity in dementia care with a person-centered approach at the heart of this. 

Karan also works as an independent consultant supporting policymakers, and health and social care service providers to develop and enhance existing dementia programmes ensuring that care is delivered in a culturally inclusive way. 

Prior to receiving his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in 2010, Keith had a successful career in education, including 16 years as a head teacher. Keith is now a member of our Grant Advisory Panel for Care, Services & Public Health Research as well as a Research Network Volunteer. Keith has recently led the publication of a book, Welcome to our World, a collection of life writing by people living with dementia, to raise funds for Alzheimer's Society. 

Keith is a regular contributor in the media and in 2015 he, along with 2 other people with dementia, produced a video diary of his experiences living with dementia which featured on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, where he also participated in a studio debate. Keith regularly speaks out in the media about his experiences living with dementia as well as at events all over the country. Keith is based in Kent where he is an Dementia Service User Envoy for Kent & Medway Partnership Trust.

Actor Kevin Whately is best known as Robert ‘Robbie’ Lewis in the British crime drama Inspector Morse and Lewis, and for starring as Neville ‘Nev’ Hope in the comedy-drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet.  

Kevin’s mum, Mary, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the late 1990s and lived with the disease for 10 years before dying in 2009.

Kevin became an Ambassador in 2007, and has been an active supporter of our campaigns, events and fundraising, such as supporting Memory Walk, Trek 26, and Game Changer app. He received the Churchill Award for his outstanding contribution to dementia awareness and research and was awarded an OBE in 2025 for services to Charity and Drama.  

Laurence Geller CBE is founder and CEO of Strategic Hotels and Resorts, Chairman of Churchill Centre in USA and Chancellor of University of West London. He founded Chicago-based Geller Investment Co LLC in 2013 – a private real estate investment platform focused on placing capital in the hospitality/leisure industries. 

Laurence serves on a number of boards relating to the real estate and lodging industries, including as Co-Chairman of the Industry Real Estate Financing Advisory Council of the American Hotel and Lodging Association and as American Ambassador and Fellow to the UK-based Institute of Hospitality.

Laurence has long-held associations with the University of Westminster, graduating from the School of Hotel Management and Catering at the institution when it was Ealing Technical College. In March 2009, he received University of West London’s Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award, and in November 2010, received an honorary doctorate; he was installed as Chancellor in May 2011.

A respected philanthropist, Laurence is Chairman of the Churchill Centre and a serving member of, amongst others, the President’s Council of the Midwest Region of the US Fund for UNICEF, and The National Leadership Council for the American Jewish Committee. Laurence has received numerous awards for his charitable endeavours. He has personally fundraised more than US$20m cumulatively to a variety of humanitarian, cultural and civic causes over the years.

Laurence has authored over 50 published articles about the lodging industry as well as a novel, Do Not Disturb. Laurence was awarded a CBE by the Queen in the 2012 New Year's Honours List.

Lavina Mehta MBE, founder of Feel Good With Lavina, is a personal trainer, wellness coach, speaker and author of the book, The Feel Good Fix.  

Lavina saw her maternal grandmother, her Nani, battle with dementia for the last 10 years of her life and is keen to raise awareness of dementia in the South Asian community.  

As a personal trainer, Lavina has supported our Trek26 and Memory Walk events and is passionate about promoting the health benefits of exercise to treat, prevent and reduce risks of dementia. Her slogan is to “exercise for sanity not vanity.” 

You can view some of her workouts on her YouTube Channel.
 

Lesley Manville CBE is an award-winning actor. Her credits include Netflix’s The Crown, Mum and  Phantom Thread; for which she was nominated for an Oscar. She’s recently appeared in the west end production of Oedipus and in the BBC Drama The Magpie Murders.

Lesley’s passion for supporting Alzheimer’s Society stems from caring for her mother Jean who had dementia and her portrayal of a carer in the film, Ashes. Lesley’s support includes launching Dementia Friends, attending Memory Walk, and reading at our Carols at Christmas event.

Lesley said: ‘They [Alzheimer’s Society] help you to see that the glass isn’t always half empty. I urge anyone who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with it to get in touch with them because there is so much support available. They are working hard to demystify the illness and take away some of the stigma that is attached to it.’ 

Louise Robinson is Professor of Primary Care and Ageing, Newcastle University, an academic GP and Director of the Newcastle University Institute of Ageing. Louise's research programme is focused on Primary Care of those with dementia including early intervention, end of life care and the role of assistive technologies. Louise leads Alzheimer’s Society’s Centres of Excellence in Dementia Care Research which focuses on developing and evaluating post-diagnostic support for people with dementia.

Currently Louise is the primary care advisor for the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia and the National Clinical Champion for Dementia at the Royal College of GPs.

Since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease Lorraine has dedicated herself to improving the future for people affected by dementia. She regularly attends and speaks at conferences locally and nationally to help raise awareness of dementia and the impact her young-onset diagnosis has had on her life.

Lorraine worked in a mental health care trust in Medway Hospital and has been the driving force in making the hospital more dementia friendly.

Lorraine is the chair of the local Dementia Action Alliance in Medway and was recently awarded Kent’s most inspiring person with dementia, something that she is extremely proud of. 

Sir Malcolm Walker was born in Yorkshire in 1946 and founded the company Iceland in 1970, opening the first shop in Oswestry with an investment of just £60. He then served as Iceland’s Chairman and CEO through 30 years of continuous growth. Malcolm left Iceland in 2001, but returned as CEO four years later. Iceland today has sales of £2.8bn, over 900 stores and more than 22,000 employees who have twice voted it the Best Big Company to Work For in the UK.

The Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation has raised more than £20m for good causes, focusing particularly on dementia charities.

Actor Meera Syal CBE is best known for staring in Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at number 42 and as a best-selling author. Recently she played Queenie, a family matriarch who finds out she has early-onset dementia, in A Tupperware of Ashes at The National Theatre. Meera was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship in 2023.

Meera’s father was diagnosed with dementia in 2012 and shortly after had to go into care, sadly dying in 2018. Because of the “amazing” help Meera received from Alzheimer’s Society, she became an Ambassador in 2013. In 2023, her mother, who was living with her, also died from dementia.

Meera was one of the first ‘Dementia Friends’ and recently supported our Behind Closed Doors campaign appearing in our ad break takeover.  

‘I can't think of one family I know that hasn't been affected by dementia in some way, and yet it tends to be something that people struggle with alone. I passionately believe we need to educate people about the disease. It’s the UK’s biggest killer.’ 

John Suchet OBE is a former presenter on Classic FM and former reporter for ITN, where he covered major world events and presented News at Ten and ITN bulletins for a period of almost 20 years. In 2008 the Royal Television Society awarded John the Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2001 the Royal Academy of Music awarded John an honorary fellowship for his work on Beethoven.

Nula Suchet is one of Ireland’s most celebrated interior designer, fashioning castles, mansions and stately homes taking chic to unprecedented levels.

John and Nula met when their spouses moved into the same care home. John’s wife Bonnie had vascular dementia whilst Nula’s husband James had frontotemporal dementia. They both died in 2015.  

John said, ‘So many stories about dementia end sadly. At least there is a happy ending to our story, which was the last thing Nula and I expected.’

John and Nula are proud to share their experiences of dementia to raise awareness, break down stigma and help other people caring for their partners.

Professor Peter Passmore is a psychiatrist for old-age and Professor of Ageing and Geriatric Medicine at Queen's University, Belfast. He is leading an exciting clinical trial to test a potential treatment for Vascular Dementia (there are currently no treatments) which Alzheimer's Society is joint-funding with the British Heart Foundation as part of our Drug Discovery Programme.

Professor Passmore is widely respected as one of the leading dementia experts in Northern Ireland. He is very supportive of the Society and is currently a member of our Grant Advisory Board for Biomedical Research.

Richard McCourt is a television and radio presenter best known as one half of award-winning duo Dick and Dom.  

Richard’s mum was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal dementia in 2005.  

Whilst supporting our Behind Closed Doors campaign in 2024 Richard said, ‘It’s almost 20 years since Mum was diagnosed and I get angry when I see how little things have changed. Over the past 10 years, we have also lost mum’s sister, Jean, and her brother, Peter, at a similar age, to this terrible disease.

‘I got involved in helping the Alzheimer’s Society after Mum died because it’s crucial to spread the word. I’ve raised a fair few thousand pounds – I’ve run the London Marathon a few times, trekked the Great Wall of China and twice cycled to Paris. The bonus for me is that working with them has helped me talk about my lovely mum as she would have wanted.’ 

Richard is the Chairman of M&C Saatchi Group UK and of M&C Saatchi Merlin, a talent agency for leading names in sport and entertainment. He is also the Chairman of South Shore (an ITV Studios production company), former Chairman of Surrey County Cricket Club and now Chair of the ECB. Since January 2020, Richard has been Chair of our flagship Sport United Against Dementia campaign (SUAD).

He has been instrumental in establishing the SUAD campaign board, bringing leaders from across the world of sport together for the first time to tackle dementia by raising significant funds and awareness, as well as creating a dementia friendly sporting landscape.

Robbie Savage has been an Ambassador since 2011, supporting Alzheimer’s Society in memory of his father, Colin, who passed away with Pick’s Disease in 2012.

In his role as Director of Macclesfield FC, he was instrumental in selecting Alzheimer’s Society as the club’s nominated charity, raising funds for our Sport United Against Dementia work.

Speaking in 2022 to The Mirror newspaper, raising awareness of our FA partnership, Robbie said ‘Anyone who has experienced Pick’s disease or Alzheimer’s in their household knows that it doesn’t just claim one victim. Those who are left to care are victims, too. I used to go and visit my dad, knowing that he was gently slipping away...right near the end, when my mum was with him, he seemed to be gesturing towards the TV remote. She realised he had spotted me on the TV, doing the half-time analysis for the BBC, and he still recognised his son on the box. If your mum or dad lives with dementia and you are reading this, give them a kiss and tell them you love them – because they won’t be here for ever.’ 

Robert is the son of modern artist William Scott who died of dementia in 1989. After having supported the Society for many years, he was invited to be among the first group of Ambassadors to be appointed at the House of Lords in 2007.
 
The Scott family actively supports the Society’s research programme to help take us closer to developing a treatment, if not a cure, for diseases such as Alzheimer’s through the William Scott Estate.

Roland Rudd is a leader in corporate communications and provides personal counsel to board members and senior executives at the most critical moments for their companies. Before founding Finsbury, a strategic communications and public affairs consultancy, he worked as a financial journalist at the Financial Times, The Sunday Correspondent and The Times, and as a Policy Coordinator for Lord Owen.

Roland chaired the Dementia Creative Committee in 2014, which aimed to recruit Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends across the corporate sector.  The Committee helped garner support from over 20 businesses and over 400,000 employees supported the initiative. 

Roland became an Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador in 2020, and is striving to change societal perceptions of dementia. He works closely with the Alzheimer’s Society Campaigns and Policy team to drive the social care crisis up the list of priorities for Government. During the coronavirus pandemic he made a personal contribution to our Emergency Appeal to ensure people affected by dementia could continue to receive the support they deserve. 

By helping to break down stigma, he is transforming the way the UK thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

Rupert has 25 years’ experience in the financial world. He is based in London and is currently a partner at Alignvest, the Toronto based Alternative Investment Group that specialises in private equity with investments across student housing, healthcare, telecoms, and insurance. He previously held several different roles as the founder of Hampton Investment Management, where he managed an emerging markets equity fund, and at Matterhorn Investment Management. He is also a trustee of the Syncona Foundation.

Rupert has been involved with Alzheimer’s Society for over a decade. In his Ambassador role he has spearheaded a series of successful opportunities to significantly increase high-level funding and investment, in innovative research in particular, that will transform the experience of those with dementia – both now and in the future.

Astrologer Russell Grant has been a much-loved media personality for many years, appearing on TV shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity MasterChef.  Russell now shares his Daily Horoscopes in The Mirror newspaper.

A committed Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, Russell has spoken about his grandmother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease and is a passionate advocate for carers rights.  

Most recently, Russell helped raise awareness by supporting Dementia Action Week in highlighting the importance of getting an early dementia diagnosis as part of our 2024 campaign. 

Ruth Langsford is one of TV’s most well-known presenters with a hugely successful career spanning more than 30 years. She is anchor of ITV’s Loose Women and was a host of ITV’s This Morning for 17 years. She has her own clothing range on QVC and hosts a weekly show, Ruth Langsford’s Fashion Edit.

Sadly, Ruth lost her father Dennis to dementia and her mother Joan is currently living with the condition.

Ruth is a passionate supporter of our Memory Walks, opening her local walk every year. Recently she voiced an ITV Christmas partnership for Alzheimer's Society where she spoke about how import her role as an Ambassador is. ‘Having lost my dad Dennis, and currently seeing my mum Joan live with dementia, I know how this time of year can often heighten the heartbreak and loss we feel, coupled with added challenges to manage ongoing caring responsibilities. With one in three people born today developing dementia, it has never been more crucial to shine a light on the condition and bring it from behind closed doors.’

Actor, writer and producer, Sally Lindsay is best known for ITV’s detective series Scott & Bailey, BBC’s Still Open All Hours, and Channel 5 series Cold Call and Madame Blanc.  

Sally became an Ambassador in 2007, after her grandmother Ellen (known as Nellie) had Alzheimer’s disease and died aged 70 having been diagnosed at the young age of 60.

Sally recently voiced our Trek26 adverts and spoke on our behalf at the TLC Lions fundraising dinner. 

Dementia has been part of her life for a long time as she shared in the care of her mother, who had Vascular Dementia. Shelagh’s best friend had Alzheimer’s disease and lived with Shelagh and her husband, Paul, for five years.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2010 when she was 70, Shelagh’s first campaign for the Alzheimer’s Society was a petition to improve post diagnostic support which gained more than 50,000 signatures which she presented at 10 Downing Street after taking part in in a day long lobby of Members of Parliament.

An accomplished public speaker she has undertaken many hundreds of speaking engagements on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society, including to the De Loitte Institute, the directors of major banks and at many conferences. She is a member of the Three Nations Dementia Steering group and was involved in the revision of the Dementia Statements.

Shelagh is passionate about the needs of older people with dementia who have no access to services and with end of life care, believing that as well as living well with dementia we must look to dying well with dementia.

Award-winning actor and producer Suranne Jones has supported Alzheimer’s Society for many years. Suranne, who won a coveted BAFTA for her starring role in Doctor Foster, is also known for roles such as Gentleman Jack and Vigel. She became an Ambassador in 2020, after her late mother who lived with dementia for eight years, died in 2016.

Suranne recently supported our Behind Closed Doors campaign, lending her voice to bring to life calls our support line receives every day from people searching for help.

She said: ‘I was honoured to have been asked to be part of Alzheimer’s Society’s Behind Closed Doors campaign. Recording the Support Line calls made it really hit home just how isolating dementia can be for the person living with the condition and their families. The words really resonated with me, and I'm driven more than ever to help in whatever way I can to make a difference.

'By talking and raising awareness, we can create a world where people have access to the support they so desperately need and can improve the lives of everyone affected by dementia.’ 

Tania Bryer OBE is a TV presenter, writer and charity campaigner. She is best known as host and executive producer of the critically acclaimed series ‘CNBC Meets’, where she gets up close and personal with some of the world’s most inspirational figures to find out the secret to their success and how their philanthropy transforms lives.

Tania’s father, Lionel had Alzheimer's disease and she’s spoken movingly about this experience as a spokesperson for Alzheimer’s Society.     

Actor, presenter and writer Sir Tony Robinson, best known for television's Blackadder and Time Team, filmed the final days of his mother's life in a powerfully moving documentary Me & My Mum.

Both of his parents had dementia making him one of our most passionate and active campaigners for all those affected by it.  

Sir Tony Robinson has been a regular supporter of our Dementia Action Week campaigns, joining Alzheimer’s Society's CEO, Kate Lee, outside the Houses of Parliament in 2021 and recording a very special episode of the Tony Robinson Cunningcast podcast featuring Alzheimer’s Society’s Chief Policy and Research Officer, Professor Fiona Carragher, in 2024. 

Vicky McClure MBE is an actor and producer. She also runs the popular DayFever club events and founded Our Dementia Choir, the latter being the subject of two BBC documentaries.  

Vicky became an Ambassador in honour of her Nana, Iris, who had dementia. Since then, her Nana Jean and Grandad Ralph have both died with the condition.

Vicky, a keen campaigner for the rights and care of people affected by dementia, recently supported our ad break takeover as part of our Behind Closed Doors campaign.  

Vicky is also synonymous with our flagship fundraiser Memory Walk having attended every walk in her native Nottingham since 2011. She said: ‘I walk not only for my grandparents past and present, but in support of the wonderful singers and carers of Our Dementia Choir past and present... I’m proud to support the amazing work that Alzheimer’s Society does, helping people through some of the hardest and most frightening times by providing services that are such a lifeline for people living with dementia and their carers.’