Sir Terry Pratchett dies aged 66, credited with dragging dementia 'out of the shadows'

The Alzheimer’s Society paid tribute to popular author and dementia campaigner Sir Terry Pratchett, who died recently aged 66.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which he announced in 2007, the best-selling writer of the 1990s had since been heavily involved in campaigning for a more dementia-friendly society and for better funded research into developing treatments and a cure.

The author, best known for his comic- fantasy ‘Discworld’ series, which includes several dozen novels, also campaigned in favour of assisted suicide and made donations to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

After Pratchett's death on 12 March, his assistant wrote from the official Terry Pratchett Twitter account:

'AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER.

'Terry took Death's arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.

'The End'

Commenting on the news of his death, reportedly surrounded by his family, Alzheimer’s Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes said:

“Sir Terry Pratchett fundamentally changed the way dementia is seen and understood. The most passionate of campaigners to bring change; his vehement determination to reduce the stigma of dementia meant he helped drag it out of the shadows – kicking and screaming at times. He has made a remarkable contribution to dementia since his diagnosis in late 2007. Shouting from the rooftops about the absurdity of how little funding dementia research receives, and fighting for good quality dementia care, he was and will remain the truest of champions for people with the condition.

“During the many times Terry supported Alzheimer’s Society, publicly and privately, I was struck by his passion, resilience and courage to fight and kill the demon of dementia. When thanked for his work, he’d simply smile and shake his head modestly, insisting it was nothing. Never dwelling on his own dementia, he used his voice to shout out for others when they could not.

“Our deepest condolences go to his wife, Lyn, his daughter, Rhianna, and his friend and business manager, Rob Wilkins, who accompanied and supported Sir Terry on all his charitable work.”

Sir Terry Pratchett was also a patron of the Campaign for Dignity in Dying.

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “I am saddened to hear of the death of Dignity in Dying Patron Sir Terry Pratchett and our thoughts are with his family and close friend Rob Wilkins. Terry was a committed campaigner who did an enormous amount to bring assisted dying for terminally ill people to the public’s attention.

“He accompanied Peter Smedley to Dignitas in a landmark BBC documentary which showed how terminally ill people are currently being forced to travel abroad to control their deaths. Sir Terry was fond of saying “it’s time we learned to be as good at dying as we are at living” and his brave approach to confronting issues of death, including his own, was a heartfelt demonstration of dignity.”