Headway was formed when Dinah and Barry responded to an advert that had been posted in the national newspapers by Sir Neville Butterworth, who was seeking holiday accommodation for his brain-injured son, Launce. Dinah and Barry, having experienced firsthand the challenges of post-injury rehabilitation following Launce’s car accident a few years earlier, were quickly on board.
The couple worked tirelessly, combining their talents to form an incredible team. Barry was the business brains and provided the charity’s first offices and significant financial backing, whilst Dinah was the face of the charity, travelling the length and breadth of the country connecting families in need with support. Headway became Dinah’s life.
It was their amazing work for Headway that led to Dinah and Barry almost becoming the first couple to receive a joint MBE. Unfortunately Barry died before the honour could be bestowed, and unable to award the MBE posthumously Dinah received it herself in 1999.
Barry died in November 1998 but Dinah continued as a trustee of Headway – the brain injury association until she felt her time was better spent supporting the local Nottingham Headway, on whose board she served for many years alongside her daughter, Hannah.
Dinah leaves behind two daughters, Claire and Hannah, and a son, Launce. She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.
We thank the Minton family for these words.
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