DYING is the subject on everyone’s lips this week.

And if it’s not, then it should be because this week is Dying Matters Week, and Prospect Hospice is encouraging everybody, young and old, to start talking about the ‘D’ word.

Yesterday, accredited psychotherapist, researcher into end-of-life experiences and writer Sue Brayne was joined on stage at the Arts Centre by Liz Rothschild, founder and keeper of Westmill Woodland Burial Ground as they discussed the subject as part of the Swindon Festival of Literature.

The pair led an informal chat about our outlook on death, how much or how little we think about it and what measures we should take to ensure that when a relative dies, everything is exactly how they want.

Sue, author of The D Word: Talking about Dying, said the subject had always been one that fascinated her.

“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by death– even as a child I wondered what it was going to be like,” she said.

It is hoped that Dying Matters Week will raise awareness of the issue and encourage more people to write a will sooner rather than later.

The importance of will writing is something Ian Hanks, of AE Smith funeral directors, is supporting, and a subject that Sue feels passionately about.

“I’d encourage everyone to make a living will,” said Sue.

“Talk about the end of life care you hope to have, don’t leave it to the last minute when you’re incapacitated, you can’t decide what you want and it is left to your relatives to do for you.

“I am a passionate advocate for this, as well as an ordinary legal will. You must be responsible for your life.”

Liz, who is also a celebrant for marriages, namings, and funerals, said death was a tricky and emotive subject and many of us can go through much of life without having direct experience of death, so we often find ourselves running away from it.

“Each death is completely individual, “ she said.

“The deaths of my two parents were completely different, reflecting both who they were and how I related to them.

“I often get children coming to me saying they can’t get their mum to talk to them about death, or I will get mum saying that she is making plans but no one in her family wants to have that conversation.

“Writing a will can make it so much easier for the family.

“Imagine what it would be like for two sisters who aren’t particularly close and don’t often see eye to eye, and their mum has died. If they don’t know what their mother wanted and if they had never had that conversation, then they will never be able to agree on whether she should be buried or cremated and so on.

“The best thing I can be told after a funeral service is ‘so and so would have really loved that service’.”

Prospect Hospice is touring the county with its Dying Matters bus this week.

This morning, they will be parked in the Sainsbury’s car park in Royal Wootton Bassett.