Donate now See menu Shop Support line Search Home About us Our people Vice-Presidents and Patrons Vice-Presidents and Patrons Our Vice-Presidents, Patrons and Ambassadors programme unites key supporters in the fields of business, the arts, science, politics, the media, sport and those living with dementia, who are able to use their skills to ultimately beat dementia. Royal Patron HRH Princess Alexandra Princess Alexandra has been our royal patron since 1990. She hosts our annual People Awards ceremony at St James's Palace, to celebrate the contribution of our staff and volunteers. Vice-Presidents Professor Jim Edwardson Professor Edwardson was the founding Director of the Institute for Ageing and Health and is the founding chair of Years Ahead - the North East Regional Forum of Ageing and Health founded in January 2005. Since retirement, he continues to work part-time for the IAH in the field of public engagement. Dr Nori Graham Dr Graham is Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Emeritus Consultant in the Psychiatry of Old Age at the Royal Free Hospital and Mental Health Consultant to a nursing home in London. She is a former chairman of Alzheimer's Society and honorary Vice-President of Alzheimer's Disease International. Dr Anne Hunter OBE Dr Anne Hunter (now retired) was an Assistant Neurologist based in Haslemere and was a founder member of Alzheimer's Society in 1979. Dr Christine Kirk Dr Kirk is a former senior psychiatrist and has been a leading volunteer with Alzheimer's Society since 1979. Professor Gordon Wilcock Professor Wilcock has been involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research since the late seventies. Prof Wilcock now works in dementia care research at Oxford University. He has a long established relationship with the Society and is a member of its Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee. Patrons Britt Ekland Actress Britt Ekland has spoken of her experiences caring for her mother who had dementia and died in 1994. Her film credits include Get Carter and the cult classic The Wicker Man Dame Judi Dench Dame Judi Dench is a much-loved actor. Her role as Iris Murdoch in the film Iris (2001) won critical acclaim for her moving portrayal of the writer's journey into dementia. Lawrie McMenemy MBE Lawrie McMenemy MBE is a former football manager who won the FA Cup with Southampton in 1976. Lawrie also managed Northern Ireland's national team and coached the England national side during the 1990's. Lawrie, a celebrity supporter, has a personal link to the Society as his mother-in-law had dementia. He officially started the Bupa Great South Run in 2010 and is a passionate supporter of the local services in Hampshire. Professor Bob Woods Bob Woods is Professor of Clinical Psychology of the Elderly at Bangor University. Bob has been practicing clinical psychology working with older people for over 30 years. Bob was appointed as the first Chair in Clinical Psychology with Older People in the UK, at Bangor University in 1996 and his research focuses on family carers of people with dementia, psychological factors related to carer burden and interventions to improve quality of life and function in people with dementia. He is Co-Director of the Dementia Services Development Centre Wales and a member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Panels of Alzheimer Europe and Alzheimer's Disease International. Professor Carol Brayne Carol is Professor of Public Health Medicine in the Department of Public Health and Primary care in the University of Cambridge. She is Director of the Cambridge Institute of Public Health. Carol is an epidemiologist and public health physician. She is interested in risk factors for dementia, and leads several large research studies that follow participants over extremely long timescales. Carol is Co-chair of the Alzheimer's Society's Research Advisory Committee. Professor David J Brooks Professor Brooks is Hartnett Professor of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London. He is a leading figure in the field of dementia research, having published over 350 peer reviewed journal articles. In 2001 he was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Science, UK. He is a member of the Society's Biomedical Grant Advisory Board. Professor Martin Rossor Martin Rossor is the NIHR National Director for Dementia Research, Professor Emeritus, and Principal Research Associate at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. He works as a consultant neurologist at St Mary's Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. When he was appointed as the Chairman of the Division of Neurology in 2002, after becoming Professor of Clinical Neurology, he established a specialist cognitive disorders clinic, which acts as a tertiary referral service for young onset and rare dementias. Professor Murna Downs Professor Murna Downs is Chair in Dementia Studies and Head of the School of Dementia Studies at University of Bradford. Murna's research interests are in the area of the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions promoting quality of life and quality of care in people with dementia and their families. Her interests also include the lived experience of dementia, palliative care and the effectiveness of training and education. Murna is a current member of Alzheimer's Society's Research Advisory Committee. Professor Steve Gentleman Steve is Professor of Neuropathology at Imperial College, London. His research has focused on the link between head injury and Alzheimer's Disease. Steve was one of the first Alzheimer's Society Research Fellows and is a current member of Alzheimer's Society's Research Advisory Committee. Professor Steven Rose Prof Rose is a neurobiologist and widely published author on the biological processes involved in memory formation and treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Professor Rose is an Emeritus Professor and Director of Brain and Behaviour Research Group at the Open University. Professor Sube Banerjee MBE Sube Banerjee is Professor of Dementia & Associate Dean for Strategy at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Director for Dementia at NHS London. He was previously the Department of Health for England's senior professional advisor on dementia and led the development of the National Dementia Strategy. He led a national enquiry into the use of antipsychotics in dementia for the UK government and consults widely to industry and governments on health systems, policy and strategies to improve health for dementia and in long term care. An active researcher, he has more than 100 peer reviewed publications including work on: quality of life in dementia; psychosocial research; RCTs and the interface between policy, research and practice. Rosie Boycott Feminist and academic who co-founded the women's magazine Spare Rib in 1971. Also co-founder of Virago Press, a publisher committed to women's writing. She was the editor of Esquire magazine, as well as of the Independent on Sunday, the Independent and the Daily Express. Rosie's father had dementia and she is one of the Society's celebrity supporters. Think this page could be useful to someone? Share it: Further reading What kind of information would you like to read? Use the button below to choose between help, advice and real stories. Decide what you see My dad inspired my song that fundraises for dementia research Real stories Nigel Starmer-Smith enjoyed an incredible sporting career and, to his son Charlie, has always been a hero. Following many challenges as a family, including the progression of Nigel's dementia, Charlie relied on music to unpack his feelings. Now he is fundraising for Alzheimer's Society with his song, Spotlight. 26 November 2021 0 News Leading dementia organisations call on government for urgent action to maintain essential relationships of care home residents One Dementia Voice - a coalition of eight leading dementia organisations - urgently call for the maintenance of essential relationships to be made a statutory aspect of person-centred care. 6 ideas for a dementia-friendly Chanukah Advice A traditional religious festival provides an opportunity for family and friends to celebrate together. Here we provide guidance, and some ideas to support those living with dementia at Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah. 24 November 2021 2 Previous Next Sign up to get twice-monthly e-newsletter updates from Alzheimer’s Society. You can change what you receive at any time and we will never sell your details to third parties. Here’s our Privacy Policy. Useful links Jobs Working for us Contact us Publications and factsheets Training and conferences Blog Legal information Cookies Report a website problem Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube All content © 2021 Alzheimer's Society. Registered office at Alzheimer's Society, 43-44 Crutched Friars, London, EC3N 2AE Alzheimer's Society is a registered Charity No. 296645. Registered as a company limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 2115499 We use some essential cookies to make this website work. 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