Sarah’s ex-partner died from lung cancer in April 2019. He had been absent for years but made contact when he became unwell.

Tanya had a near-death experience after the birth of her first child, inspiring her to re-evaluate her life choices.

Amy is the owner of the New York City-based firm Fitting Tribute Funeral Services.

Joanna has experienced sudden and unexpected bereavements several times. She believes her life has fundamentally changed as a result.

Clare’s ex-husband died due to complications following surgery to remove a Grade 4 Medulloblastoma brain tumour.

Erin Dean’s mother was unexpectedly diagnosed with gastric cancer at the age of 50. Erin became one of her mom’s primary caregivers until her death at the age of 53.

Awen is a pagan priest based in Birmingham who offers ceremony and ritual to help navigate the big changes of life, particularly around birth and death. 

Sara is the author of Ticking Off Breast Cancer, a book about juggling life with treatment for primary breast cancer at the age of forty-two.

Emma is a third year student nurse on placement in a hospice.

Gemma’s father died from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare neurodegenerative brain disease, in 2017.

Emma-Louise was only 24 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer only three weeks after her mum died from the same disease.

Hayley’s youngest child has a rare genetic syndrome which has caused him to aspirate on liquids (the feed going straight to his lungs). She writes about her experiences as a form of therapy.

Caroline suffered from Thanataphobia from early childhood, which led her on a journey of deep enquiry into the nature of death. She tries to encourage others by sharing her own journey of recovery, and is aiming to start a Death cafe exclusively for those suffering from Thanataphobia.

Denyse retired in 2010 and was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2017.

Megan is an MSW (Masters of Social Work) and works in end of life research at the University of Missouri. She is the host of Death Cafe St. Joe, runs the Death Cafe Facebook page and was a board member of Death Cafe London.

Claire has been a nurse for 22 years. Much of her career has been in the Acute sector within the NHS. Spending over ten years specialising in coronary care and seven years as a critical care outreach sister, she has been involved in hundreds of cardiac arrests.

Sophie Ratcliffe is the author of The Lost Properties of Love. Her father died of cancer when she was thirteen. 

Ellie is an artist who lives and works in London. Having experienced the death of several family members in relatively short succession, death, grief and loss are themes that have been explored in her work.

Sarah is a Baptist Minister and after a hospice placement whilst doing a Masters has been Chaplain at Milton Keynes University Hospital since 2014.

Barbara is a Senior Operating Department Practitioner with 25 years experience in the NHS.

Merryn became interested in palliative and end of life care when working as a volunteer with children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS as a teenager. Over the past 25 years she has been gifted many stories of dying and grieving by her research participants, as well as having experienced her own bereavements.

Cressi was diagnosed with a rare form of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in October 2018.

Fi is a multi award winning researcher, author, blogger and speaker with a very dark sense of humour, recognised internationally for her presentations and articles on her journey and the importance of holistic health.

Compassion in Dying can help you prepare for the end of life - how to talk about it, plan for it, and record your wishes.

Associate Professor Leeroy William is a Palliative Medicine Specialist in Melbourne, Australia. He has worked in Palliative Care across the UK, New Zealand and Australia.

Kate is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology in the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath. She is Mum to two children. Her son was born was a life threatening condition and spent 3 months in NICU.

Rosie is a progressive funeral directer with eighteen years experience in the world of funerals. She is particularly interested in how we create meaningful ritual when organised religion is less relevant to many communities.

Lizzie is mummy to Sebastian (five) and Toby (two and a half). Sebastian lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive and life-limiting muscle wasting disease as well as Autism and associated delays. 

Alyx’s father died 12 years ago. She now works at Pilgrims Hospices promoting openly talking about death and dying.

Dr James Gagg is a consultant in Emergency Medicine and the Clinical Director of an A&E department. He is also the team doctor for the Exmoor Search & Rescue Team. He believes it is so important for patients and families to consider and plan for what they would want if and when they become seriously ill or are nearing the end of their lives so that the focus of care can be on a good life, rather than a bad death.