A Tribute to Dame Esther Rantzen DBE (1940–2026)

It is with great sadness that the White Hat Ball Committee has learned of the death of Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of Childline and a dear friend of our ball from its very first evening.

In 1986, Esther had a simple but radical idea: that every child in trouble should have someone to turn to, someone who would listen to them and take them seriously. She turned that idea into Childline, a service that has since supported millions of children and changed countless lives.

Esther joined us at the very first White Hat Ball and returned many times over the years. She was a wonderful supporter of the event, always bringing the same warmth, wit and extraordinary energy. She came not simply to support the Ball, but to talk to people about Childline, thank them for their generosity, and remind us why raising those funds mattered.

Esther had that rare ability to turn words into action. The service she created has had an impact far beyond the UK, inspiring similar services around the world and changing how children in difficult or dangerous situations can seek help.

She was a brilliant broadcaster, a determined campaigner and an extraordinary champion for children. To us, she was also a friend, and the White Hat Ball will not feel quite the same without her.

Her energy, determination and commitment to giving children a voice leave an extraordinary and lasting legacy, one that continues through Childline’s work every day.

Our thoughts are with Esther’s children, Miriam, Rebecca and Joshua, her grandchildren, and everyone at Childline and the NSPCC who knew her, worked alongside her, and whose legacy lives on through Rebecca, who has stepped into Childline and is supporting the White Hat Ball.

If you’d like to leave a dedication to Esther, you can do so on her memorial page here: https://lnkd.in/eAxtJshc

We will honour Esther in the way we know best: by continuing to support Childline and helping ensure children always have somewhere to turn.

Thank you, Esther. You will be greatly missed.

The White Hat Ball Committee