House of Lords (HoL) member and pensions industry stalwart, Baroness Sally Greengross OBE, died yesterday (23 June) at the age of 86.

Greengross had been an independent crossbench member of the House of Lords since 2000 and co-chaired several All-Party Parliamentary Groups, primarily focused on older life care.

She had also been the president of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) since 2004 and was chief executive of the International Longevity Centre (ILC) UK, which she founded while director-general of Age Concern.

People from across the pensions industry have been paying their respects to Greengross, including Pensions Minister, Guy Opperman, who said he felt “humbled and privileged” to have known her.

“Sally had many interests, and achieved so much, but for me she was an incredible champion for older people, and fuller working lives,” Opperman said on Twitter.

“She was a critical friend, and a provider of quiet advice, to this junior minister, for which I am very grateful. She will be sorely missed.”

Greengross was educated at Brighton and Hove High School before going on to study at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and held honorary doctorates from several universities, such as Brunel, Keele and Kingston.

She was awarded an OBE in the 1993 New Year Honours and raised to the peerage for Notting Hill in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 2000.

In a statement, the PPI said that it had “many, many happy memories working with Sally”.

“Sally was incredibly well respected within government and our industry,” it continued.

“She has always been incredibly supportive of our work and vision and despite her many varied commitments Sally always found time for the PPI.

“Sally leaves a legacy that all of us fortunate enough to work so closely with her will strive to continue.”

ILC Trustees chair, Professor Martin Green OBE, also paid his respects: “The death of Baroness Greengross has left everyone at the ILC deeply saddened and bereft at the loss of our inspirational leader, colleague and friend. We know that this news will also sadden everyone who was fortunate to have met her and we are thinking of Sally’s family and friends.

“We are honoured to have known and worked with Sally - for some of us, over many years. Sally has been one of the most influential figures in redefining how societies across the globe respond to demographic change and ageing.

“Her passionate commitment to human rights and equality inspired all she met and underlined everything she has achieved.

“As we mourn Sally, we are filled with tremendous sadness. But she has left behind an enormous legacy, and we are committed to delivering her vision for a better world.”

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