This Is Your Life: Elizabeth Ward

Elizabeth WARD OBE (1926-2020)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Elizabeth Ward, charity founder, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of her charity's Patron, the Duke of Westminster - at a photocall to celebrate the charity's 21st anniversary at Guy's Hospital in London.

Elizabeth, who was born in Finchley, London, studied at Cheltenham Ladies College and St George's School, Ascot. In 1944, she joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment at Salisbury Hospital, where she cared for injured servicemen. After a spell in India with her first husband, she returned to England and remarried. Elizabeth's life changed when her son Timbo developed an acute kidney condition at the age of 13, which eventually caused his kidneys to fail.

Elizabeth began working with the National Kidney Research Fund, and, in August 1971, she placed an ad in The Times newspaper, which led to a public awareness campaign and the introduction of the kidney donor card. She founded the British Kidney Patient Association in 1975 to improve the quality of life for people with kidney disease. Sadly, Timbo died in September 1987, but in 1990, Elizabeth's fundraising efforts established the Timbo Ward Paediatric Renal Unit at London's Guy's Hospital.

"No - I can't believe it. I mustn't cry, must I?"

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