DO IT FOR BABS
Tragic icon’s widower calls for better dementia care as her legacy
BARBARA Windsor’s heartbroken husband has called on Boris Johnson to keep his promise to improve dementia care after the star’s death from Alzheimer’s. Scott Mitchell, 57, urged the Government “to be true to their previous promises and invest more” into care. Liz Kendall, Shadow Care Minister, said: “We need reform that takes dementia care seriously or this problem will only get worse.”
BORIS Johnson vowed to make Britain the “best country in the world to live with dementia”.
The PM led tributes to Barbara Windsor who David Walliams called the “unofficial queen of England”.
The Prime Minister met Dame Barbara in Downing Street in 2019 to talk about dementia care as she struggled with her own Alzheimer’s.
After the star’s death on Thursday, aged 83, Mr Johnson, said: “She has been part of all of our lives, part of my life. And she was one of those people that just cheered you up, and cheered everybody up because she had a kind of irrepressible naughtiness that was totally innocent.
“And whenever she went into a room, and she did a lot of good work for charity and looking after lonely and vulnerable people, she lit up people’s faces.”
TREASURED
When Barbara’s husband Scott announced his wife’s death he had urged the Government to “be true to their previous promises” and invest more in dementia research and care.
The PM’s spokesman responded, saying: “We want to make this the best country in the world to live with dementia and have committed to significantly increasing research funding.”
In his first speech as PM in 2019, Mr Johnson claimed he had a plan ready to “fix” social care. But Shadow Care Minister Liz Kendall said: “It is absolutely crucial people with dementia can access the care they need. Yet the Government has failed to produce a plan to support those with dementia.”
Tributes poured in from TV, showbiz politics, royalty and dementia charities for Barbara, who was best known for the Carry On films and her role as Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.
Britain’s Got Talent judge and comed ian David Walliams said: “Goodbye, Dame Bab. You were my first love as a child in the Carry On films & I will love you forever. Working with you, spending time with you and being your friend was one of the greatest thrills of my
life. The unofficial queen of England, an icon treasured by the nation.” The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s Clarence House Twitter feed shared an image of the actress shortly after she was created a dame at Buckingham Palace and said: “Dame Barbara Windsor – a great British actor and tireless
charity campaigner who will be deeply missed.” GMB host Piers Morgan tweeted: “Barbara Windsor was the funniest, warmest, naughtiest, kindest and most big-hearted of people.
“She was also a fabulous actress with the world’s most infectious giggle. Absolutely loved her. RIP, Babs, and thanks for all the laughs.”
Bake Off star Matt Lucas said: “It’s not an overstatement to say I think the whole country is in mourning today.
“She delighted us on stage and
sparkled on screen in a long and illustrious career.
“She also worked tirelessly for charity, and continued to do so, even when her own health was failing her.”
TV host Jonathan Ross remembered Barbara as “warm, funny and kind”. Phillip Schofield said: “Showbiz lost a lot of sparkle today.”
Amanda Holden wrote on Instagram: “I was thrilled to meet Barbara on several occasions. She was an absolute joy.” Dame Joan
Collins wrote : “Show business has lost a legend. Barbara Windsor: You will be missed.” Sir Elton John posted: “The world has lost the biggest ray of light.” Jaime Winstone, who played Dame Barbara in 2017 BBC biopic Babs, paid tribute to “one of the most generous, beautiful, playful women I have ever met”. Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “Her death is a huge loss. Her acting brought a smile to people across Britain.” Former PM David Cameron, who is president of Alzheimer’s Research UK, tweeted: “So sad that Barbara Windsor has left us.
“She really was a national treasure who worked tirelessly to campaign for charity, including @AlzResearchUK.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that as MP for Elstree in North London, where EastEnders is filmed, he was “MP for Albert Square”.
He said Barbara, as Peggy Mitchell in the soap, was “the greatest landlady Albert Square ever had”.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted that he had worked with Dame
Barbara when she was a Team London ambassador. He said: “She was a brilliant force — a fierce Londoner, full of humour, with a passion for fighting for the vulnerable. She will be greatly missed.” Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “I hope the Prime Minister listens to calls from Barbara’s family to invest more in dementia care.”
Kate Lee, chief executive of the Alzheimers’ Society, said: “Scott and Barbara were incredible supporters.
“What they achieved in the last couple of years for dementia has been truly awe-inspiring.”
THERE is a reason why Barbara Windsor had a special place in the nation’s hearts.
Not just her infectious giggle, her wonderful sense of fun or the way she lit up a room.
Nor was it just about her acting skills, brilliant though they were.
Whether she was camping it up in the Carry On films or ruling the roost in the Queen Vic, she made the parts she played her own.
She was also loved because she had real class, which she showed in her fight against Alzheimer’s and how she campaigned so selflessly for better care for others with dementia.
And she showed it in the way she treated everyone, from royalty to road sweepers.
Dame Barbara was the unofficial queen of showbiz and with her passing a cheeky bit of joy has gone from our lives.
There could be no better tribute to her than giving dementia care the funding it needs.