Tribute: Kay Glendinning MBE, 1935-2025
5th January 2026
In December we were sad to learn of the death of Kay Glendinning MBE, former trustee of Cicely Saunders International. Kay was the great niece of Herbert E. Dunhill, founder of the Dunhill Medical Trust (now The Vivensa Foundation) and had over 30 years experience as a Trustee, Administrator and Director at Dunhill.
Kay joined Cicely Saunders International as a Trustee in 2020 bringing a wealth of experience from her other charitable involvements, and a keen interest in the sustainability of health and care services and interest in palliative care for older people and other disadvantaged groups.
She served as a Governor, Director, Trustee, Chairman and non-Executive Director of a wide range of trusts, hospitals and research institutes – including serving as a Governor of Guy’s Hospital, member of the Council at King Edward VII Hospital in Midhurst, a Non-Executive Director of the Portsmouth Hospital NHS Trust, a Director of Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research and a Trustee of Breakthrough (Breast Cancer) Research Charity.
She was an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford and served as an Honorary Fellow of both UMDS Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital and the RMPS Hammersmith Hospital. She was a founder trustee of St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Chichester and its patron.
Professor Richard Harding, Executive Dean and Herbert Dunhill Professor of Palliative Care said:
“Kay was always great company and very good at seeing where potential links could be made between our goals at Cicely Saunders International and people that she knew with aligned interests. It was a huge pleasure to work alongside her.”
Professor Irene Higginson, Scientific Director of Cicely Saunders International said:
“Kay was such a force in transforming health and care, and such an advocate for improving care through research and supporting new ideas, innovation, evidence, as well as capacity building, and services.
It was a privilege to know her and benefit from her wisdom, and work with her on many significant initiatives at CSI, Guys and beyond, which have benefited care, treatment and services for older people and in palliative care.“