Dr Hilary Jones MBE steps into charity President role
Dr Hilary Jones MBE has been announced as the new President of Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.
Dr Hilary is one of the most recognised and trusted medical broadcasters, with a career spanning almost 50 years in medicine and more than three decades on national television. A practising GP, author and health commentator, he has become a familiar face to millions through his long-standing role as ITV’s resident health expert, helping people understand complex health issues with clarity, compassion and credibility.
He joins Living Streets as the charity launches ‘The answer is walking’ – its three-year strategy taking them to their centenary in 2029.
For almost a century, the charity has campaigned to make streets safer, healthier and more accessible, so that walking can be the safe, easy and natural choice for everyone, everywhere.
From campaigning for the introduction of zebra crossings and contributing to the development of the Highway Code in its early days, to more recently supporting over 18 million new walking journeys among primary school children, saving approximately 69.2 million kg of CO₂ emissions a year.
Writing in ‘The Answer is Walking’, Dr Hilary Jones MBE, said:
“For years I have preached about the power of walking – both as prevention and a cure. It’s a free and simple way for us all to get more activity into our day. It boosts mood, can fend off chronic conditions and can help those in recovery – as it did for me after surgery. If you’re looking for a positive step to take for your health and wellbeing, walking is the answer.
“But what’s the power of walking if our streets aren’t places where we feel safe, happy and able to walk or wheel?
“We can’t take this simple act for granted when so many of our streets aren’t accessible, because our pavements are cluttered with obstructions or overrun with traffic and congestion. And we can’t assume that our streets serve every community in the same way. I’m acutely aware of the different considerations my own family must make on what I might consider a very simple journey, for example.
“We need streets that are safe, accessible and free from fear and exclusion. For everyone. As Living Streets’ President, I am committed to supporting the charity in their work to make that happen.”
For the next three years, Living Streets will be focussed on achieving policy change to create more accessible streets, enabling more people to walk more.
Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive, Living Streets said:
“By our centenary in 2029, we want people to demand safe, attractive streets for their community so people from all walks of life can experience the benefits it brings. With Dr Hilary’s trusted and influential voice, we will be able to further raise awareness of the endless benefits walking brings and the need to create streets that make it accessible to all.”
Dr Hilary takes over the President role from Lord Michael Bates, who stepped down at the charity’s AGM alongside Vice President, Susan Claris.
Catherine Woodhead continues:
“I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Lord Michael Bates and Susan Claris for all the support, passion and expertise that they have contributed to Living Streets.
“As President and Vice President, they have overseen improvements to the lives of millions of people, including changes to the Highway Code to prioritise people walking and wheeling, the development of the first national Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade, a ban on pavement parking in Scotland and the introduction of 20mph default speed limits in Wales.”
About the author
Kathryn Shaw
Head of Communications and Marketing, Living Streets / [email protected]