Annie Lennox is HIV ambassador
Annie Lennox has been appointed as London's ambassador for raising awareness about HIV and Aids by Mayor Boris Johnson.
New platform : Annie Lennox with daughters Tali and Lola at Guildhall
Ms Lennox, who says she will use her new platform to help reduce the stigma attached to the disease, said: "I said to him [Johnson] I would really love him to make me an ambassador for HIV and AIDs.
"He very, very generously said right away that I could create the position, although we have yet to meet to finalise the details."
Ms Lennox approached Mr Johnson after heckling him at a dinner as he gave a speech about swine flu.
She called out as he addressed the audience: "So what's the deal with swine flu, Boris? Is it getting worse or getting better?"
Speaking at Guildhall, where she was receiving the Freedom Of The City after being nominated by the British Red Cross, she said: "We get very hysterical about other kinds of epidemics that come our way like bird flu and swine flu. Those are things that come in and affect people and then go away again. But HIV is a permanent virus and it stays with you for the rest of your life."
