Anita leaves immense gap

Mr Goodheart said Dame Anita, who died on Monday night, was keen to see a Rox academy of musicianship opened in the town.

'She promised she would financially support us with the academy for a period of time,' he recalled.

'I bumped into her in the street in Arundel just the other week and the first thing she asked me was how the project was coming along. She asked to be kept informed.'

This ability to enthuse others and instantly offer help meant that the death of the iconic businesswoman from a brain haemorrhage at the age of 64 would leave an immense gap, he stated.

'She was really quite an amazing woman. She was forceful without being OTT. She would listen and then get right to the root of a problem and then move on. Her time was precious, like everyone's else, but when she arranged a meeting with us she would fully concentrate on what we had to say and then give us advice and point us in the right direction.'

Dame Anita, who had lived in Slindon for several years, became a patron of Rox four years ago.

Mr Goodheart and fellow Rox trustee Robin Parker had business dealings with her during the early years of the Body Shop cosmetics empire. They were also aware of Dame Anita's frequent visits to Bognor during those days. The town was one of the first to have a Body Shop branch before the company grew into a worldwide phenomenon.

'She will be greatly missed by a lot of people,' added Mr Goodheart. 'And our thoughts at this sad time are with her family.'

Arun District Council's chairman Cllr Graham Tyler has written to Dame Anita's family to express his condolences on behalf of everyone at the local authority.

He described Dame Anita as a woman who combined ethics with business. Her vision and drive created hundreds of jobs for people around the district through her extensive businesses.

'As a businesswoman, a social activist and a champion of green issues she was an inspiration.

'But, she was also much loved as a person, and will be sorely missed by everyone who was touched by her influence. Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.

Bognor and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb said Dame Anita would be missed for the contribution she made to the Littlehampton area.

'She provided employment and prestige to the town in having the headquarters of a world class company based there,' he stated.

'She contributed enormously to the local community, always happy to help where she could, particularly in education.

'As well as being an enterprising and innovative businesswoman, she also had strong political convictions, was a passionate environmentalist and always spoke out for her beliefs.'