Dame Barbara Windsor online condolence book

Dame Barbara WIndsor and Scott Mitchell attend the Pride of Britain awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel

(Image credit: Karwai Tang / Contributor Getty)

published 18 December 20

Dame Barbara Windsor's legacy is set to live on after husband Scott Michell launched an online condolence book for fans to remember the Eastenders star while raising vital funds for Alzheimer's Research UK.

Dame Barbara, 83, died peacefully on 10th of December at the care home she was staying following a six year battle with dementia.

Husband Scott led the tributes to his beloved wife and a week after her death he has come up with a way to help others while honouring Barbara's wishes.

He explained, “I’ve been asked by so many people what they can do to honour Barbara and both of our wishes was for more money to be invested into dementia research.

"That’s why I’d ask people, if they can, to share their memories of Barbara and consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Research UK, however small or large. Alzheimer’s Research UK is a charity that’s doing so much to ensure future generations don’t have to go through the same heartbreak I and so many others have.

“The donation page will also act as an online book of condolence, where people can share their many stories, tributes and anecdotes about her. I know that will provide comfort to so many, and I’ll be reading every one of them.”

As well as driving much-needed funds for dementia research, the online JustGiving page will allow her family, friends and many fans to share stories and leave tributes to the National Treasure.

Scott and Dame Barbara’s decision to go public with her dementia diagnosis in 2018 has changed attitudes towards the condition and shined a spotlight on dementia around the UK and beyond.

Alzheimer’s Research UK has seen a spike in donations since her death, with many saying they felt compelled to do so in her memory.

Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said, “We remember Dame Barbara first and foremost for lighting up our screens in her inimitable appearances over many years. But in her later years, and supported by husband Scott, Barbara also put enormous efforts into campaigning to help improve dementia care and research as she battled the condition herself. We are touched by Scott and Barbara’s desire to support research as her legacy, and even in a year so disrupted by COVID-19, our resolve to find breakthroughs has never been greater.

“We hope people will share their memories of Barbara’s life and work, and they can choose to support Alzheimer’s Research UK’s work if they can. Losing a loved one to dementia creates heartache across families and friendships, but research brings hope that we can change the lives of people with the condition, and Barbara’s memory only strengthens our determination to achieve this.”

Visit JustGiving to leave a tribute to Dame Barbara and consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Research UK in her memory.

Selina Maycock

Selina is a Senior Entertainment Writer with more than 14 years of experience in newspapers and magazines. She currently looks after all things Entertainment for GoodtoKnow, Woman&Home and My Imperfect Life.

Before joining Future Publishing, Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism. She is fully NCTJ and NCE qualified and has 100wpm shorthand. Having spent the start of her career working on local newspapers and online, Selina spent six years as Acting News Editor and Entertainment Reporter at the Scunthorpe Telegraph where she dug into hard news stories, conducted interviews, covered court reporting, features, and entertainment, whilst going to gigs in her spare time.

Whilst at the paper she was awarded an O2 Media Judges' Special Award for helping a terminally ill cancer sufferer realise his dying wish and marry his childhood sweetheart through a successful newspaper campaign. Things like this are close to her heart when it comes to using journalism to make a positive difference in people's lives.

Selina later branched further into all things celebrity to became a Showbiz Writer at Heat magazine, covering red carpet events, showbiz parties, and various launches before going freelance for two years. One of her biggest celebrity achievements - aside from generating celebrity exclusives - was interviewing Take That (including Robbie Williams) and bumping into Simon Cowell so much at events she told him 'I'm calling you my showbiz dad!'

In 2017 she joined TI Media as a senior reporter on Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, Woman's Weekly celebrity desk before branching online in 2020 when Future gave her the opportunity to focus on digital-first.

When she's not interviewing celebrities you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories.