Cumbrian Tech Founder Pays Tribute To Dame Esther Rantzen
A Cumbrian technology founder has paid tribute to Dame Esther Rantzen following her death and praised her lasting support for older people.
Dame Esther was an ambassador and advisory board member for Kendal based technology company Alertacall, which develops services designed to help older people remain connected and independent. She died on September 30 after a career spanning broadcasting, charity work and campaigns supporting vulnerable people. Her long association with Alertacall saw her provide advice, encouragement and practical support as the company developed its services for older people across the UK.
Alertacall founder and chief executive James Batchelor MBE also serves as a trustee of The Silver Line, the 24 hour telephone support service for older people founded by Dame Esther. Their professional relationship began around 12 years ago when both were speaking at an event focused on improving the lives of older people. The meeting led to a long standing connection between Dame Esther and the Cumbrian technology company.
Mr Batchelor recalled meeting Dame Esther in London and hearing her discuss her plans for The Silver Line. He was speaking about his own invention and the role technology could play in supporting older people. Dame Esther became interested in Alertacall's work and was subsequently invited to visit the company's operations in the Lake District, where their shared interest in improving the lives of older people helped strengthen their relationship.
Dame Esther later became closely involved with Alertacall as an ambassador and supporter. She joined the company's advisory board in 2022, bringing her experience and perspective to discussions about the development of services for older people. Her involvement continued even while she was dealing with serious illness, with Mr Batchelor saying that she continued to make an effort to offer advice and encouragement to the company.
Alertacall uses technology to support communication between older people and the organisations responsible for their care or housing. The company's approach combines digital services with regular human contact, reflecting a principle that Dame Esther also strongly supported through her work with The Silver Line. The connection between the two organisations centred on the belief that technology can help facilitate communication while personal contact remains essential to people's wellbeing.
Mr Batchelor said Dame Esther understood that technology alone could not provide the full support older people need. He highlighted the importance of regular, friendly contact from people who genuinely care about those they are supporting. That philosophy was reflected in the work carried out by both Alertacall and The Silver Line, which have sought to tackle loneliness and isolation among older and vulnerable people.
The relationship also connected two different approaches to supporting older people. Alertacall developed technology to help people remain connected and communicate with service providers, while The Silver Line provided a dedicated telephone service offering conversation and support. Dame Esther's involvement with Alertacall allowed her to contribute to the development of technology based services while continuing her wider work focused on human connection.
Dame Esther was widely known for presenting the BBC television programme That's Life, but her later work also became closely associated with charitable campaigns. She founded Childline, which provides support for children and young people, and later established The Silver Line to provide a 24 hour helpline for older people. Both organisations became significant parts of her legacy beyond her broadcasting career.
Her work with The Silver Line was particularly relevant to her relationship with Alertacall. The charity's focus on older people reflected the same concerns that influenced the technology company's services. Mr Batchelor's role as a trustee of The Silver Line also meant that the two organisations were connected through their shared focus on improving communication and support for people who may otherwise experience isolation.
Alertacall was founded by Mr Batchelor and has developed technology aimed at helping older people remain safe, connected and independent. The company's services are used across the UK, giving it a direct connection to the communities and individuals whose wellbeing was central to Dame Esther's work. Her involvement provided the company with both public support and experience from someone who had spent decades campaigning on behalf of vulnerable groups.
Dame Esther's contribution extended beyond her formal role with Alertacall. Mr Batchelor said she continued to provide guidance and support throughout her involvement with the business, including during periods when she was seriously ill. Her willingness to remain engaged reflected the importance she placed on finding practical ways to improve the lives of older people.
The tribute from Mr Batchelor also reflects the personal relationship that developed between the broadcaster and the Cumbrian entrepreneur. Their first meeting led to Dame Esther visiting the Lake District and becoming increasingly familiar with Alertacall's work. Over the years, that relationship developed into an advisory role and a shared commitment to supporting older people through a combination of technology and human contact.
Mr Batchelor described Dame Esther as a significant force for good and said her legacy would continue through Childline and The Silver Line. He also expressed his determination to continue the work of helping older and vulnerable people in a way that would honour her contribution. The comments underline the lasting influence she had on the people and organisations involved in that work.
The death of Dame Esther has therefore been felt particularly strongly at Alertacall, where she had been involved for several years. Her contribution to the company extended from her early interest in its technology to her formal position on its advisory board. She also remained connected through the wider network of organisations working to improve support and communication for older people.
For Alertacall, her legacy is closely linked to the principle that technology should strengthen human relationships rather than replace them. The company will continue its work supporting older people through digital services and communication, while the values shared with Dame Esther remain central to its approach. Her influence is expected to continue through the people and organisations she supported during her lifetime.
Dame Esther's career brought together broadcasting, campaigning and charitable work, with her later years particularly focused on the needs of children and older people. Her connection with Alertacall provided another way for her to contribute to that mission, helping a Cumbrian technology company develop services intended to improve the lives of older people across the country.
Mr Batchelor said Dame Esther would be greatly missed but that her work would continue through the charities and organisations she helped establish or support. For Alertacall, her involvement has left a lasting mark on the company's approach to technology, communication and human contact. Her contribution will remain part of the company's history as it continues working with older and vulnerable people across the UK.
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