As well as being an indefatigable campaigner for the rights of older people, Sally Greengross was one of the kindest, most helpful people I have ever met. I experienced this as a young academic attending a major international conference for the first time, in New York.
Following my speech on the politics of ageing in the UK, the queston and answer session was suddenly hijacked by another leading light of Age Concern, who marched down the conference hall, shouting at me for not mentioning the recently formed Social Democrats. Afterwards, Sally rushed to the stage to offer both comforting words and excuses for her colleague, who later apologised. This typical kindness will never be forgotten.
