Speaking at Merton College for Oxford University’s annual Equality Conversation lecture, film maker and educator Lord Puttnam said more people had “a duty of care” to the world they lived in, and in particular to disabled people. His talk was followed by comments by the chief executive of Leonard Cheshire, Neil Heslop OBE.
Lord Puttnam said:
“Leonard Cheshire’s life offers a model for the type of self-sacrificing leadership needed to educate and inspire. He gave us, the entire global community, a way of providing sense of inclusion – a civil society with roots. He showed the possibility 
that we can all broaden our horizons in such a way as to develop and expand our ambitions for society.”
Neil Heslop OBE, CEO of Leonard Cheshire, said:
“Leonard worked tirelessly around the world to improve the lives of disabled people with humanity and respect. His inspirational spirit guides our work today to overcome cultural and practical barriers to community inclusion, learning, work and independence for disabled people. Whilst the world is a far more inclusive place than it was in 1948 when he started our charity, much remains to be done. The centenary of Leonard’s birth inspires us to redouble our efforts to reach disabled people around the world to support them in realising their full potential.”
Lord Puttnam and Mr Heslop were invited to speak as guests of Merton College, Oxford, where philanthropist and disability advocate Group Captain Leonard Cheshire was a student in the 1930s.
This year marks 100 years since Leonard Cheshire’s birth, and the charity founded by him is holding events around the country to celebrate his birth.
For more information please go to www.leonardcheshire.org/centenary
