EVENTS coming up in Tavistock in early November will give local people the opportunity to think about issues and attitudes around death and dying.

The first event ‘Living Well, Dying Well’, hosted at the Local Matters shop in Elbow Lane on Saturday, November 5 between 10am and 5pm, will see a range of speakers who are involved either personally or professionally with the processes of death and dying and end of life care.

There will also be the opportunity to talk about these issues and to think about practical ways in which people can prepare for their own deaths to ensure that their care is in line with their own wishes and beliefs.

Speakers from all over the Westcountry will be talking about subjects such as living well with a life threatening illness, being an end of life doula and green burials. Additionally, a celebrant will talk about her experience of supporting a family at a time of grieving and there will be an introduction to thinking about writing an Advance Decision (formerly known as a living will).

At the end of the day, between 4pm and 5pm, there will be an informal gathering with tea and cakes where people will have the opportunity to discuss and share their feelings about the day.

A spokesperson for Living Well, Dying Well said: ‘There is an increasing recognition that in our culture we have difficulty thinking about and talking about our own death and the death of people close to us. Sixty-five per cent of people do not have a will and only 27 per cent have specified their funeral wishes.

‘This can leave us unprepared for events when we or someone close to us is dying. Preparing and talking about one’s own death with family, friends and those close to us can be a positive experience and enables the subject of death to be out in the open, facing the fear that can so often be around.’

The second event will take place on November 12 and 13 and is an opportunity to learn more about Advance Decisions and, for those who wish to, to get one-to-one help in writing one from fully trained people.

There is no charge to attend either event but donations are welcome towards the cost of running the days.

For more information call Sarah on 01822 610389 or email Wendy on w.millar27 @gmail.co.uk