Fergus Wessel runs Stoneletters Studio, which specialises in fine, hand-carved headstones. He’s passionate about headstones, and campaigns to spread awareness of the comfort and healing that a memorial can bring to those who are bereaved.
Read moreFive Things I’ve learnt as a palliative care psychotherapist, by Ben Sealy.
Ben Sealy works as a psychotherapist at Harlington Hospice and with the palliative care team in North London. He sees patients at the end of life as well as their carers/family, working with them in their homes, in hospital and at the hospice, from diagnosis until death.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt about death since my dad was murdered by Mark Lemon.
When Mark Lemon was 12, his father was murdered. He now writes books for children.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt about cemeteries, by Dr Romany Reagan.
Romany Reagan received her PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London in performing heritage in 2018, with a focus on community engagement. Her practice-based research project ‘Abney Rambles’ is comprised of four audio walks that she researched, wrote, and recorded from 2014 to 2017 within the space of Abney Park cemetery.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt from nursing the dying, by Kimberley St John.
Kim is a palliative care nurse and the lead for Let's talk: Transforming end of life care conversations at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and the Second Conversation, a collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians.
Read moreFive Things you learn after having cancer in your 20s by Alice-May Purkiss.
Alice-May Purkiss was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 when she was 26. Hearing the words "you have cancer" changed her life immeasurably, but not necessarily for the worst. Her first book, Life, Lemons and Melons was released in 2019 and explores the relationship between cancer and mental health.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt about grief, by Caroline Lloyd.
Caroline Lloyd is completing a PhD in bereavement and has 30 years of voluntary experience, plus too many personal bereavements to mention. She’s the author of Grief Demystified.
Read moreFive Things I've learned about death from working with refugee children, by Nuri McBride.
Nuri McBride worked in international humanitarian aid for fifteen years specialising in survivors of torture, refugee children, and the resettlement of unaccompanied minors. She has worked in-country in Kenya, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Thailand, as well as in resettlement in the United States.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt after being diagnosed with dementia at the age of 58 by Wendy Mitchell.
Wendy Mitchell was diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia on the 31st July 2014 at the age of 58 years. Post diagnosis, she was so shocked by the lack of awareness, both in the community and the clinical world. She’s proud to be the author of the Sunday Times best seller, Somebody I Used to Know.
Read moreFive Things no one tells you about losing a loved one to suicide, by Chloe Laws.
May 2019 marks a decade since Chloe Laws’ stepdad died by suicide. Chloe is the founder and co-editor of the feminist platform FGRLS CLUB, which creates and champions content that aims to break taboos and open up conversations.
Read moreFive Things I've discovered about the reality of living with Parkinson’s disease, after being diagnosed at the age of 29 by Ellie Finch Hulme.
Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 at the age of 29, Ellie Finch Hulme writes about her experiences of parenting and Parkinson’s on her blog, PD Mama, with the aim of raising awareness of young onset PD.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt about life after writing about the death of my son, Teddy, by Elle Wright.
After the death of her son, Teddy, at three days old, Elle Wright started writing to navigate her new life and as a way to feel purpose again. Her blog, Feathering The Empty Nest, is a way of finding light in darkness, positivity in times of desperation and, hopefully, making a few people laugh along the way. Elle is a wife, mother, award-winning blogger and author of The Sunday Times Bestselling book ‘Ask Me His Name’.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt about money and a good life by Alex Holder.
Alex Holder has written a book on the importance of talking about money. Her work has been taught in schools and debated in parliament. Her campaign highlighting the gender pay gap went viral and helped change an actual law. Her book ‘Open Up – The Power of Talking About Money’ is published by Serpents Tail and out now.
Read moreFive Things I’ve learned as a hospice doctor, by Dr Rachel Clarke.
Dr Rachel Clarke works in an NHS hospice and believes strongly in the importance of helping patients with a terminal illness live as richly and fully as possible.
Read moreFive Things you need to know about hospice care by hospice pioneer Barbara Karnes, RN.
Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally respected speaker, educator, author, and thought leader on matters of end of life. She is a renowned authority to explain the dying process to families, healthcare professionals, and the community at large.
Read moreFive Things to know if you're young and bereaved by Beth Rowland.
Beth Rowland’s Mum died when she was 20, and the devastation of her death affects every second of her life. She set up Let’s Talk About Loss to try to overcome the barriers of talking about losing a loved one – a safe space for 16 to 30 year olds to talk about loss with other people who will understand.
Read moreFive Things death has taught me about life by cancer badass AnnMarie Otis.
Parlaying a cancer diagnosis into an advocacy powerhouse, Cancer Badass AnnMarie Otis gives voice to people impacted by breast cancer, MS, and mental health issues. She established the non-profit Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer organization in 2012.
Read moreFive Things to remember about death and the digital by Elaine Kasket.
Elaine Kasket is the author of All the Ghosts in the Machine: Illusions of Immortality in the Digital Age. She writes about the murky and weirdly compelling junctures where life, death and the digital meet.
Read moreFive Things I've learned from 50 years of living and working with death and dying and near-death experiences by Dr Deborah Forrest
Dr. Deborah Forrest trained with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and is a pioneer in the field of spirituality and dementia. Her personal experiences with death and dying and grief work began at the age of three years when she attended the funeral of her great-aunt. It has continued over the decades with the deaths of her parents, two sisters, her husband and multiple aunts and uncles and cousins and dear friends.
Read moreFive Things I've learnt about funerals since I became a Humanist Celebrant by Carol Smillie.
Carol Smillie (now Knight) qualified as a Humanist Celebrant in 2018 after over 25 years in television. She now conducts non religious funerals, naming and legal wedding ceremonies with the charity Humanist Society Scotland. Humanist ceremonies are now the number one choice across Scotland for both weddings and funerals.
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