Croft, what does the cause of death matter here? This should not be an opportunity to point potential fingers of blame; it’s her life we should be celebrating. I find your comment highly inappropriate and offensive.

She was an inspirational woman to many all across the world. We need more people like her in this world!

Sharada, Tortola,

The death of Anita Roddick, the great environmentalist and green Queen invokes memories of the passing of Linda McCartney, the Champion on behalf of animal rights and vegetarianism.

Brien Comerford, Glenview, United States

An incredible human being - the world will be a much emptier place without her.

Martin, Dublin, Ireland

What a shock. She was a truly inspirational lady who made ethical issues fun as well as serious. I do hope L'Oreal will maintain her spirit in The Body Shop - it was her attitude and driving force that made it stand out.

Karen Burge, London, UK

Didn't she sell the Body Shop to L'Oreal, and don't they test on animals, I find that un-inspirational

S.Jenks, Lewes,

As a teenager I used to escape from school in Littlehampton to the cafe run by Anita's mother and remember her as an attractive and vibrant young woman. It was wonderful to watch the pioneering career of someone I'd met when younger. As a teacher of business, I've seen the issues she promoted move from the fringes of society and unrecognised in business to the mainstream. Her effort and inspiration more than anything made this happen. Her picture is on the wall of my room amongst those of the people who have shaped the modern theory and practice of business and serves to inspire the next generation of business practitioners

Josh Brown, Havant, Hampshire

As a former employee of the Body Shop during six years in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil in the nineties of last century, I had many opportunities to share very good moments and experiences with this special woman when dealing Brazil nut oil and beaded wristbands with the Mebengokre (Kayapo) Indians vilages.

I am sad that Anita passed way from this life so abruptly, just her who always had a great capacity to anticipate the future. My condolences to her daughters Justine&Sam and her husband Gordon.

Saulo Petean, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Anita Roddick periodically wrote articles for Ode Magazine. She was a true pioneer in her field and she will be missed. Jurriaan Kamp, founder of Ode magazine, writes a tribute to Anita on Ode's website: http://www.odemagazine.com/blogs/good_news/447/one_hell_of_a_woman_and_her_mosquito

Katie, Mill Valley,

What an extraordinary woman. Certainly proved that you don't need a fancy education, connections, wealth or social status to take on and change the world for the better. Imagine how different the world could be if all business leaders had her conscience. She was truly and inspiration

Nizar, New York, USA

Anita Roddick was truly the best candidate for Entrepreneur of the Century (Female Section) that the world ever had. Anita Roddick was a champion environmentalist who was a super entrepreneur. And, the best thing is, she was a remarkable ambassador for the United Kingdom. All would be immigrants to the UK please note, the UK affords each and every person an equal opportunity to "get on" - so cease the opportunities that Britain presents and make the best out of your lot.

Faraz Shauketaly, ColwynBay, North Wales, UK

Anita will be missed . She was a human being that cared.

I send my sympathy to her family and friends for their loss. I did not know her but know someone who met her and said she was a generous, positive woman. I have seen her on the television and as a woman she gave me inspiration and a lot to think about through her example.

sharon hall, London, united kingdom

Why so many good people died young? She could have accomplished so much more for charity and the environment.
Anyway what a remarkable and kind hearted woman. Her greatest achievement is to prove that it is possible to run a highly successful business in an ethical and socially responsible manner. No doubt her generosity has benefited a lot of people. Sadly she is no longer with us but her wonderful legacy lives on.

Wing, Poole, UK

What a great loss. I have shopped in a Body Shop in many countries i.e. London, Dublin and now in Boston.
May she Rest in Peace

Edel Quinn, cambridge, USA

Dame Anita Roddick was and will remain for a long time an inspiration for so many people.

Her creative approach to entrepreneurship balanced with her commitment to social responsibility is a model for citizenship in today's world.

I was privileged to published alongside her earlier in the year - it was such an honour. Everyone who has come in contact with her would have been motivated in some way.

A truly great person.

Nigel Griffiths

Nigel Griffiths, Newport, UK

I am sorry she has died but I think she was overated in her green outlook.

I will never forget the new factory she had built on the south coast all shiney metal it looked totaly out of place in its coastal location and had no concern for its environment.

Johnny Norfolk, Mileham,

Having worked with Anita over the past year - she radiated warmth, compassion, and abundance of energy and she exuberated an amazing passion for what she believed in, an inspiration to us all, to go for what we believe in wholeheartedly. She will be missed by those she inspired and those she helped.

GLR, London,

I was so sad for her(she would otherwise have gone on with her causes for many a year I'm sure.)and for her family.I never met her but always enjoyed hearing her on the radio,etc-a really feisty woman.

H.D, WsMare,

I am so sorry she died so long. We studied her in those early days as she coincided with our launch of L'Herbier de Provence and because she had a cause she succeeded where we failed. She is one of my heros in a business driven by men for women she was a pioneer that faced oposition in the face, packaging and press meant nothing to her. They were coincidental to the reactions that came from her revolutionizing the business which will forever have her mark on it for the good of all. Dona Leach, former VP, L'Herbier de Provece USA

Dona Barlow - Leach, Clearwater, FL, USA

She was a true rebel; an outsider who could look in and see the problems. And not just see them, but offer and invite solutions too. What fun!

My thoughts are with Gordon, Sam and Justine.

And I know that if she were listening in, she'd want us all to 'Just get on with it'. Oh and there might have been an expletive in amongst that sentence!

Thanks Anita. I know you didn't believe in life after death, but your spirit will live on in what we continue from here.

Helen , Chichester,

Anita quote:

"It was my view that unions were only needed when the management were bastards."

adfero, Norwich , England

Anita,what a truely wonderful woman in every sense of the word. You stuck to your heartfelt beliefs throughout your life and enchanced so many people's lives all over the world. So beautiful to listen to ,so beautiful to watch. God bless you and have fun with the other greats awaiting you in heaven. Rest well.

Name Withheld, sort, spain

I used to shop at her second ever Body Shop (in Bath) in the late 1970s when I was a teenager. I loved the unpretentious, natural approach, feeling that I had discovered a special place, and watched proudly as Anita took over this country and then the world!

Name Withheld, london,

Having myself worked at The Body Shop Headquarters for over 15 years and having also witnessed the incredible vitality and enthusiasm that Anita had, I know that most people who knew or met Anita would agree that she will be sorely missed and was an inspiration to us all......our thoughts go out to her family at this time

Bob Hulse, Littlehampton, Uk

A great, excitng, hands-on lady, a mover, an inspirer. Greatly to be missed, never to be forgotten.

Brian Seals, Scarborough, Nth Yorks, UK

I am very sorry to hear of the sudden death of Anita Roddick. I was inspired by her passion for the environment, animals and people, and the ability to carry out policies that benefited all. We have few enough leaders that have such vision and passion, and the loss of one of her calibre is very large indeed.
My heartfelt sympathy to her family.

Sandra Skolnik, Sunnyvale, CA, USA

I have long admired Dame Anita, and been a loyal customer to The Body Shop for many, many years. I was pleased to be able to join her company The Body Shop at Home USA two years ago. It was at that convention I was able to fufill a lifelong dream, she came into one of our traning sessions, sat right behind me. Afterwards, I was able to talk to her and had my photo taken with her. It was one of the highlights of my life, to be able to meet someone so brilliant in person. She had such an energy about her, it was contagious! The world will not be the same with out her, but she left such a wonderful legacy and blueprint for all of us to follow and keep on going.
Thank you Dame Anita!

Tanya Honton-Leddy, Wichita, USA

Forget the over reported nature of the deaths of other famous people. This woman worked tirelessly to give us what we ourselves did not know we needed decades before it was acknowledged fully that we are destroying our planet. Anita Roddick was a visionary who deserves to be held in the highest respect. Perhaps not a national hero in the traditional sense of the term, if national heroes were more of her mould we would live in a better society.

Mike, Bedu country,

Crofty,

What does the cause of death matter here? This should not be an opportunity to point potential fingers of blame; its her life we should be celebrating. I find you comment highly inappropriate and offensive.

She was an inspirational woman to many all across the world. We need more people like her in this world!

Sharada, Tortola,

Dame Anita Roddick was a truly inspirational person! She was an extremely successful entrepreneur and a philanthropist. I’m a young fundraiser. Dame Anita was one of the first people that supported my work. This country has lost one of its greatest innovators! Her dreams will live on. The world is a better place, because she showed us that anyone can make a difference!

Richard Barker, London,

I have fond memories of buying Body Shop shaving cream and getting the BIG Issue, orange mags pushed at us in tube stations in the early 90's. Even then getting free mags with real content made it a must read, Thank you Anita.

Iconic stuff that we tend to not appreciate at the time but what an impact, what a personality, what a loss what an example tu us all

Her definition of entrepreneurship as survival that nurtures creative thinking is spot on and I will remember thoise words always. Thank you Dame Anita.

Dev Aeswara Ram, Bangi, Malaysia

She was a 'do-er' and such a refreshing change from the endless priggish-twitterings of those masquerading in the role.

tim buckley, brighton, UK

I was priviledged to meet Anita through The Body Shop at Home. She was / is an inspiration to us all, may her amazing work be continued. Anita you are truly missed

Louise, Herts, UK

In the opinion of many in my generation, Dame Anita Roddick is THE finest revolutionary example, for all entrepeneurs to follow. If we want the children of our families, friends & customers to enjoy the harmonies of todays environment and rights for humans, that in our current climate, we seem to be taking for granted. Then all businesses must view the environment as an asset that best works on autopilot, when left alone. Especially when an ecosystem is unspoilt and in pristeen working condition, that ecosystem must be left untarnished,. No matter what short-term mineral/energy resources may lay under such an pristeen environment, short-term wealth = very long term poverty for all.
The business equations of radical entrepeneurs like Dame Anita Roddick, clearly show the long-term wealth that benefits all who contribute to these ethical business methods. Which (when given the chance). creates stable economies in poorer countries.
To save the world, buy the future with cash.

Chris Kowalski, London,

She lived a life that most of us dream of- hard work, a loving family, an incredibly sucessful business that people criticsed even as they copied her and giving herself to wonderful causes with generousity and passion.

The problem is that she is gone too soon.

Edie Spencer, Portland, Oregon, USA

i cant beleive she is dead . she was such an inspiration -and so ahead of her times

i cant believe that she suffered for so long with a disease that could have been discovered long ago with a simple blood test .
should the nhs have done better ?
hep c screening should be routine - a legacy that she leaves

armana, harrow,

What a wonderful woman, I would do anything to have just an ounce of her determination and drive in life.

Sarah, Warrington,

Was she a smoker, as this is the main cause of cerebral vascular disease? It is shame that the media do not take more opportunity to mention when a smoker dies prematurely, thus confirming what a lethal habit it is.

crofty, greensboro, nc, usa

an inspirational woman.

louise, london,

I was shocked to hear on this evenings news of the passing of Anita Roddick. We once met in the US a few years ago and I was thoroughly impressed by her down to earth approach with people and tremendous, infectious energy. She led the way for compassionate consumerism and was dynamic in her approach to supporting good causes and alternative lifestyles. My thoughts go out to her husband, Gordon and her children at this time. Thank you, Anita, for showing us the way. We will miss you. God bless.

David Watters, Leeds, West Yorkshire