Tributes paid to Anita Roddick

The Body Shop founder died aged 64 at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, at 6.30pm last night (Monday).

Her husband, Gordon, and daughters Sam and Justine were at her side.

In a statement, the family said Dame Anita had been admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit on Sunday evening. She collapsed at her home in Slindon after complaining of a sudden headache.

Her sudden death brought emotional tributes from the many charities, organisations and individuals she had helped or worked with during her many years as a businesswoman, campaigner and activist.

The Prime Minister led the tributes, calling Dame Anita one of this country's "true pioneers".

Gordon Brown said: "She campaigned for green issues for many years before it became fashionable to do so and inspired millions to the cause by bringing sustainable products to a mass market."

Mr Brown added she would be remembered as not only a great campaigner but as a great entrepreneur.

"As one of this country's most successful businesswomen she was an inspiration to women throughout the country striving to set up and grow their own companies. She will be much missed and my thoughts are with her family and friends," he said.

Dame Anita became known originally for her Body Shop cosmetic empire, which specialised in bringing "eco-friendly" products to the public.

She created her Chichester-based charity Children on the Edge which helps children from all over the world rebuild their lives. She was also involved with several other organisations including the Chichester Cinema at New Park of which she was vice-president.

But she gained international recognition for championing many causes closes to her heart, from green issues to human rights and Third World debt.

In February this year, Dame Anita revealed she was carrying the hepatitis C virus.

Charles Gore, chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust, said after her diagnosis, Dame Anita quickly became a patron of the charity.

He said: "Working with her was so joyful. The great thing about Anita was that she took all her causes incredibly seriously but she never took herself seriously, which made her really fun to be with."

Mr Gore said that despite suffering from hepatitis C and having cirrhosis of the liver, Dame Anita had "very few symptoms".

He also confirmed that people with hepatitis C were not more likely to suffer a brain haemorrhage because of their condition.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, and personal friend, said: "She was so ahead of her time when it came to issues of how business could be done in different ways, not just profit motivated but taking into account environmental issues.

"When you look at it today, and how every company claims to be green, she was living this decades ago.

He added: "I will miss her."

Adrian Bellamy, chairman of The Body Shop International, said: "Anita leaves us with an enduring legacy which will long guide the affairs of The Body Shop. Our heartfelt condolences are with the Roddick family at this sad time."

Emma Colyer, director of HIV and Aids charity Body & Soul, of which Dame Anita was a patron, said: "She was a great advocate for us, and for putting the issue of HIV on the agenda."

Ms Colyer added: "She was constantly thinking of new ways to look at things. You couldn't be tired when you were with her, she would soon tell you off if you didn't keep up!

"She was simply inspirational."

(More tributes on the next page)

To pay your tributes to Dame Anita click hereTributes from around the country

Friend, Keith Croft

"Above all she was a family person and her death is going to be a major, major loss."

Friend, Sir Richard Branson

"I had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Anita as a friend for many years and not only admired her greatly as an entrepreneur but as a passionate advocate of socially responsible business.

"She led the way - showing the world that success in business can go hand in hand with making the world a better place.

"She was an incredible human being and will be greatly missed."

Steve Goodheart of the Rox, Bognor Regis

"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."

Abigail Rowe from the Support St Richard's Campaign

"We were very sad to hear of the sudden death of Anita Roddick. She was an amazing ambassador for many causes and, indeed, supported Support St Richard's Campaign.

"Our thoughts and sympathy go to her family at this very sad time."

Richard Lancaster and Lilias Cheyne from the West Sussex Green Party

"Way ahead of her time, she has been a trail blazer and activist on a variety of important issues: green, science and politics, sustainability, ethical trading, animal product testing and many more.

"She has been an inspiration to the whole green movement, and it is so sad she should pass away just as her ideas are belatedly gaining a broad understanding and support amongst the general public.

"We will have to carry on this work without her, and it is vital we do.

"We offer our deep sympathy to her family and friends to all who have worked with her on her projects."

Leader of Chichester District Council, Myles Cullen

"We're all feeling a great shock and loss.

"She was very connected with Chichester. She was held in such great respect.

"There is no doubt she was one of the most famous faces to be linked with these parts and will be sorely missed."

West Sussex County Council cabinet member for environment and economy, Louise Goldsmith

"Dame Anita Roddick was an inspiration and a champion of ethical and environmental causes. She was one of the first international businesswomen in the UK and led the way for others.

"We can all learn from her ethic that community, social and environmental awareness had equal place with profit."

Chief executive of child bereavement charity Winston's Wish, Julie Stokes

"I would like to offer our sympathy to her family and to say how inspired we have been as a charity by her.

"She was one of the first people to step forward and support financially the development of the Winston's Wish branch in West Sussex.

"It was just a mark of the woman that she was prepared to back new projects and new initiatives.

West Sussex County Council leader, Henry Smith

"Dame Anita was an entrepreneur who put West Sussex business on the map. It is such a great loss and shock."

President of Emmaus and former hostage, Terry Waite

"I have known Anita and her husband Gordon for very many years and have admired her enthusiasm and dedication particularly to the cause of the poor and deprived.

"In her business life she set exemplary standards and in her charitable endeavours was generous to a fault.

"She will be sadly missed by her friends and associates but also she will be keenly missed by those in this world who have little or nothing and for whom she fought so valiantly."

Chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust, Charles Gore

"Working with her was so joyful. The great thing about Anita was that she took all her causes incredibly seriously but she never took herself seriously, which made her really fun to be with."

Friend and executive director of Greenpeace, John Sauven

"She was so ahead of her time when it came to issues of how business could be done in different ways, not just profit motivated but taking into account environmental issues.

"When you look at it today, and how every company claims to be green, she was living this decades ago."

Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper

"Anita was a leading light of the modern green movement."

Justin Francis from Responsible Travel.com

"I worked for her at The Body Shop, and she was a great inspiration in showing how business could be a force for good.

"She invested money in my travel business to help me get up and running.

"She was an incredible lady, a real livewire."

Executive director of Crisis Action, Brendan Cox

"Anita was an inspiration. She showed the scale of what you can achieve when you fight for it. Her energy, ambition and idealism will be an inspiration to thousands for years to come.

"Anita challenged social entrepreneurs to raise their game. Enough bring and buy sales, let's change the global economy."

Founder of the Big Issue, John Bird

"There is absolutely no way the Big Issue would have happened if Anita and her husband Gordon hadn't started a business that created a social engine that drove people like us to get creative."

Minister for Women, Harriet Harman

"It was not just her generosity which was so valued by women's organisations but also her imaginative leadership and her understanding of the need to back small groups of women doing vital work to help other women."

President of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes

"Anita Roddick was one of the great British role models of our age.

"She was a great environmentalist, ethical businesswoman, and campaigner for human rights worldwide."

Amnesty International UK director, Kate Allen

"Anita Roddick's passion for human rights was immeasurable and we have lost a true champion of the oppressed and persecuted."

Vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Dan Mathews

"Anita Roddick ushered animal rights into the mainstream by showing the widespread demand for products not tested on animals.

"She was the most courageous, progressive pioneer, who risked her business to be the first corporation to announce boldly - in letters a foot high in her store windows - 'against animal tests'.

"Before Body Shop you could only find cruelty-free products in hippie shops - now they are everywhere."

Clive Stafford-Smith from anti death penalty charity Reprieve

"I first met her years ago when she championed the cause of three men wrongly sentenced to prison in Louisiana and over the years came to know her as a firm friend of those facing injustice on death row, in Guantanamo Bay, or wherever they might be in the world.

"Anita was also a great supporter of charitable causes and was due to take up the reins as Chair of the Reprieve Board in just two weeks time. We were all looking forward to working with a person of such energy and imagination and are greatly saddened and taken aback by her loss."

Danny Kushlick, of drug policy charity Transform

"She was willing to put her name to it and put her head above the parapet which was a big thing for her to do when the legalisation issue was seen as quite a radical position to take.

"We were proud to have her as a patron and we're very sad to see her gone."