In 2003, Desmond and Roger Daltrey formed the RD Crusaders, a rock group featuring Desmond on drums, to raise money for charitable causes. Since its inception, the group has raised around £14 million via a series of fundraising concerts for charities including Marie Curie, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Norwood Child Care and the Evelina Children’s Hospital. As well as Daltrey and Desmond, the line-up occasionally includes Robert Plant, Lulu, Steve Harley, guitarists Russ Ballard (of Argent) and Rick Wills (of Foreigner and Bad Company), keyboardist Steve Smith and organist Zoot Money.
Desmond, an active supporter of children’s charities, became president of Norwood in 2006. He also ensured the attachment of his name to a children’s centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital, by contributing £2.5m to the £15m project. The centre is the world’s largest specialist paediatric eye clinic, a centre treating more than 25,000 children a year. The centre was officially inaugurated in 2007 by Queen Elizabeth II.
In December 2014, during the run up the 2015 general election, Desmond was reported to have agreed to donate £300,000 to the UK Independence Party. There was speculation at the time that a further donation could follow, and in April 2015 it was announced that he had given an additional £1 million to the party.
