James Brokenshire. A life well lived.
 
Great people leave a huge and lasting legacy.  James Brokenshire MP wanted to make a permanent difference to other peoples’ battles against lung cancer.
 
This page has been established for family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers to pay tribute to James, who sadly died from lung cancer aged just 53.
 
James’s family have been overwhelmed with wonderful messages and support since his death and have asked for you to continue to share your memories and photographs of him on here, as well as contributing in his memory to the excellent work of Roy Castle Lung Foundation.
 
As well as his lifetime of public service, in the last few years of his life James’s passion was to help others with lung cancer, preventing them going through what he did and raising awareness of lung cancer. He had one of the less common variants.
  
From his initial diagnosis in 2017 until his death on Thursday 7th October 2021, James was an indefatigable campaigner for better lung cancer screening, becoming the first MP to host a debate on the floor of the House of Commons on this important matter. He was clear that the stigma of lung cancer should be removed.
 
Since James’ death, his wife Cathy has stepped forward to take on the work that her beloved James began so brilliantly. She has put these issues right at the top of the public health agenda. Her appearances on television have had a major impact, driving awareness of lung cancer and its signs and symptoms. She has forged a strong bond with Fiona Castle, whose late husband, the entertainer Roy Castle, did so much to put lung cancer on the map in the 1990s.  
 
Previously a private person, happy to provide James with quiet, steadfast support, Cathy is now dedicated to improving public awareness of lung cancer, its signs and symptoms, and the issues that surround it. She takes strength from what she calls the ‘Power of James’ and feels his support and influence at every turn. Her commitment to raising awareness and tireless support for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation led to her being nominated for The Ray Donnelly Special Contribution Award at the 2023 Star Awards, an honour which was thoroughly deserved.
 
James’ family and close friends are now supporting the NHS and Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in their campaigns to promote targeted lung health checks in locations across England.
 
James would have been delighted to hear that the National Screening Committee announced in 2022 its recommendations that there should be a national lung cancer screening programme across the UK.
 
Scientific research, including work funded by Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, is revealing just how complex lung cancer truly is. It can arise from many factors. James never smoked but got lung cancer.
 
Despite common misconceptions surrounding the disease, around 28% of all cases of lung cancer are not linked to smoking. He knew that, and threw himself into supporting all those affected as Cathy is now.
 
Thank you for supporting our campaign in memory of a wonderful public minded individual, and please continue to share your memories on here as they bring so much comfort and joy to the family and others.