Most recently, Dame Judi launched Revitalise’s Wish You Were Here Campaign in 2017, inviting celebrities to doodle or describe their most treasured holiday memories. In a Revitalise Christmas Appeal message, Dame Judi said: “Our guests can leave their worries behind them and draw strength from the warmth and companionship of a Revitalise break. Thanks to the expertise of our care staff and the dedication of our volunteers, our essential breaks are making a genuine difference to the lives of thousands of people with disabilities and carers each year.” She was awarded the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1988.

She first sprang to fame as a presenter on BBC TV’s That’s Life, which succeeded in raising much needed public awareness for the need for child organ transplants. After a chance meeting with Joan Brander, the charity’s founder, Esther became a Vice President soon afterwards. Recalling their meeting, Esther said: “The more I discovered about her, the more impressed I was. I knew this was a charity I could support. I’ve had the honour of being a Revitalise VP to this day.” Esther supports a wide range of charities in addition to Revitalise, including ChildLine, which she set up in 1986, and The SilverLine, a telephone befriending service to help older people cope with loneliness, which she set up in 2012. Esther was awarded a CBE in 2006 for services to children.

Arthur Smith is considered an elder statesman of the British stand up scene, performing since the 1980s. Arthur voiced the 2017 BBC Radio Appeal for Revitalise, saying: “After my father died my mother Hazel’s grief intensified as she began to feel the onset of dementia, a condition she’d always dreaded. In the difficult years that followed I learnt how hard and upsetting it can be to be a carer. That’s why I became Vice-President of Revitalise”. When sharing his story for Revitalise’s 50th anniversary, Arthur commented: “In 2006, not long after I became a Revitalise Vice President, I popped over to Jubilee Lodge to see for myself what Revitalise does on a daily basis. I went out with a big group of guests and volunteers on a day trip to London. My abiding memory of that day was of a big group of people having a whole lot of fun. Everyone was happy, everyone was laughing. As a carer, you couldn’t ask for better than that.”

Tim was a Trustee of Revitalise for over 20 years and continues to be a Director of Revitalise Enterprises. He had a 35 year career with WH Smith and then worked for Business in Community where he was responsible for member companies in Surrey. He has been involved in the Surrey Community for many years; 25 years as a magistrate, eight years on the Police Authority and at various times Chairman of Surrey Community Action, Surrey Crimestoppers and the Independent Remuneration Panel of Surrey County Council. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey. He is a Governor of Lord Wandsworth College and was Chairman of St Aubyns School near Brighton for 11 years. Tim has been married to Di for 45 years and has four children and eight grandchildren. Tim’s ideal break is fishing – closely followed by a day at Lords!

John was educated at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, then Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained an Honours Degree in Economics, followed by a PMD from Harvard Business School in 1984. John joined Lloyds Bank in 1973 and had ascended to the position of Managing Director of Business Banking by 1996. In 1998 he was appointed Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland. In 2000 he became Director of the Lloyds TSB UK Branch Network, in charge of all branches, telephony, ATMs and internet banking. He received The Prince of Wales’s Business Ambassadors Award in 2005. Among other positions, John is currently a non-executive Director of HM Revenue and Customs, Deputy Chair of Business in the Community and a Church Commissioner for the Church of England. In recognition of his services to charity, John was awarded an OBE in 2006. He has been married to wife Yvonne for 30 years and has three adult children.

In his early years with the charity, Hugh was closely involved with the creation of Revitalise’s Sandpipers centre in Southport. In the late 1980s Hugh also took on the management of Netley Waterside House in Southampton.

Hugh is a Chartered Surveyor by profession and a partner in the firm Matthews & Goodman, with offices in London, Manchester and Liverpool.

Hugh was awarded an OBE in 1999.

Sir Andrew was educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge. He served in the Coldstream Guards and later in the Territorial Army. Sir Andrew was also High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire from 1976 to 1977. He and Belinda, Lady Buchanan, have four children. Sir Andrew and his family are farmers at Hodstock Priory, famous for its magnificent early spring snowdrops. In addition to running the estate in an environmentally friendly way, they are active volunteers and are involved in many aspects of local and regional community life.

Denis retired as Chairman of the Friends of Jubilee Lodge after 14 years service during which, under his leadership, the Friends of Jubilee Lodge raised almost a quarter of a million pounds to support Revitalise’s work at Jubilee Lodge. Denis’ passion for Revitalise, combined with his strong networking skills among Rotary Clubs and other influential groups in the region, meant he was instrumental in helping Revitalise through several stages of growth and development.