Latest news with #MarieCurie
The Independent
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Michael Palin issues sad update on end-of-life preparations after wife's death
Sir Michael Palin said he has made end-of-life preparations as he opened up about the death of his wife, Helen Gibbins. Speaking to On the Couch with Marie Curie, a charity from which Gibbins received care, the Monty Python star, 82, revealed he has made a will and his children "know where to find what they need to find should I die." The podcast aims to encourage conversations around death and dying. Gibbons, who was married to Sir Michael for 57 years, died in May 2023. They had three children together. In the episode released on Wednesday (30 July), the actor said: "I kind of kid myself that I'm gonna be all right, you know, just go on and on. And yet I know that I won't because you feel tired at certain times and... you are slightly unsteady as you get out of bed."
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sir Michael Palin, 82, confesses he is preparing for the end of his life and has finalised his will following the devastating death of his wife Helen, 80
Sir Michael Palin has revealed he is preparing for the end of his life after the death of his beloved wife left him contemplating his own mortality. The Monty Python star, 82, was married to Helen Gibbins for 57 years before her death two years ago from chronic kidney disease. Her passing has, he now says, helped the whole family to speak more openly about death and he has now finalised his will and handed over his passwords. Speaking on the On the Marie Curie Couch podcast he admitted: 'I do think about death and the family are rather wonderful about it: "Have you made a will? Can I be in your will?" 'I've made my will and all that. My family, my children, know where to find what they need to find should I die.' The actor, writer and broadcaster has three children with Helen, Thomas, 56, William, 54, and Rachel, 50 , and said he's passed on all his passwords to them 'in case I get run over by a bus. 'However fit you are, anything might happen. But I don't dwell on mortality. I dwell on life.' Michael and Helen met when they were just 16 on a summer holiday in Suffolk, and he said her death made him more aware of his own physical state. 'I'm 82 now, which is longer than any Palin male has lived for 200 years,' he said. 'I keep fit and I'm working, fortunately, and doing some quite difficult stuff, filming and all that. 'I kid myself that I'm going to be alright, and yet I know that I won't because you feel tired at certain times. You're slightly unsteady as you get out of bed, and you think, what's happening? Well, the old car's getting a bit rusty.' Michael underwent open heart surgery in 2019 to repair a valve, an experience that made him more conscious of the body's frailty. 'That saved my life, really,' he said. 'And so I've been through that, which I think is quite important - to know that your body is vulnerable. And the older you get, the more vulnerable it is.' He added that Helen's death had prompted the entire family to confront death more directly. 'I feel really glad that all my grandchildren were able to participate and see and understand right up to the last minute that this is what happens: you get ill, and eventually your body just stops working, and that's it. 'And they know about that, and they can ask any questions. I really encouraged this afterwards - if they wanted to know about her illness or about grandpa: "When will you die?" That sort of thing. And that's fine. Really good. I really enjoy having those conversations.' Michael added that following Helen's death, he struggled to imagine how he would survive. 'There was a time when I didn't think it was going to get better,' he said. 'I thought, gosh, it's just going to be poignant days. I'm going to break into tears every now and then. 'It does get better and it does adjust. And after two years now I feel I could think of Helen. I'm surrounded by her anyway. I've got photos. 'I haven't got rid of anything to do with her. The family embody what she was to them and that's all made it much, much easier. 'But… even in the most careful circumstances where you say, "I'm going to deal with that, I know what to do" - you don't at all. 'You absolutely don't know. It's absolutely a sucker punch. You just don't know what's going to happen or how you're going to feel or how you're going to react.' Asked how he'd like to be remembered, Michael replied: 'I don't want to feel that I've been exalted on any sort of pinnacle in any shape or form. 'Helen was very strong on that… She was obviously pleased that I had been successful at certain things, but didn't go on about it a lot. She was far more interested in whether I was going to be able to mend the tyre on the car.' He recalled one moment, while filming in Tibet, when he managed to reach her by phone from 12,000 feet up. 'I remember ringing up from the middle of the Tibetan Plateau. 'And I'm saying, "Guess where I am?" She says, "Well, I don't care where you are. Where's the plumber's number? The bathroom boiler's gone and it's making a terrible hissing noise." 'By the end of the phone call, I hadn't told her anything about the magnificent landscape… So there we are. That's sort of what life is, and I think that's what death is as well.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Blackburn with Darwen drops council tax for terminally ill people
Terminally ill people in a Lancashire borough who have less than a year to live will no longer have to pay council across all parties in Blackburn with Darwen approved the decision, making it the second local authority in England to take the step after Manchester introduced the scheme in June. End-of-life care charities Marie Curie and Hospice UK said they wanted other councils and devolved governments to follow suit. Labour council leader Phil Riley described it as a "worthy idea" but said he had concerns about potentially "intrusive conversations". "There are some practical issues but I am absolutely clear we can look at this," he said."It helps people at a very serious moment in their lives."My over-riding concern is that, if we are not careful, it gets some of the council officers into some fairly intrusive conversations which will be uncomfortable."He said the "very obvious one is that what do you do if someone believed they were going to die and then didn't and whether you go back". Council tax worries Speaking earlier this month, Marie Curie senior policy manager Jamie Thunder said a terminal diagnosis could mean an individual or their partner having to reduce their working hours, or stop altogether."Council tax is one of the larger bills that you might have to pay," he said."It's also one people are very worried about missing particularly because the enforcement of council tax can be quite sudden and ramp up quite quickly."So taking that bit of pressure off is a really valuable thing."The Local Government Association, which represents English councils, said some discretion and support for terminally ill people was already available but there was interest in the new steps being taken. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mirror
19-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Record £75m boost for hospices- full list of sites and how much funding they'll get
More than 170 hospices across England will receive a share of the funding - which will go towards building separate family rooms, adding solar panels to reduce energy costs and communal lounges Hospices will get a £75 million boost - the largest cash injection ever - for building upgrades to ensure patients get the most. More than 170 hospices across England will receive a share of the funding - which will go towards building separate family rooms, adding solar panels to reduce energy costs and communal lounges. Among the hospices to get cash will be Wigan and Leigh, which Health Minister Stephen Kinnock visited this week. It will use the additional funding to replace its heating system – helping create a better, more comfortable environment for patients and enabling staff to deliver higher quality care. "Hospices play a vital role in our society by providing invaluable care and support when people need it most,' said Mr Kinnock. 'At this most difficult time, people deserve to receive the best care in the best possible environment with dignity. 'I've seen first-hand how our funding is already making a real difference to improving facilities for patients and families. This additional funding will deliver further upgrades, relieving pressure on day-to-day spending. 'End-of-life care is crucial to our 10 Year Health Plan and our fundamental shift of moving more care out of hospital and into the community. We will continue to support hospices so they can deliver their vital work.' Toby Porter, the CEO of Hospice UK, said: "The announcement in late 2024 of £100 million in capital funding for hospices was welcome recognition from the government of the immense pressure facing hospices, and their urgent need for more financial support. "We were pleased to distribute the first £25 million of this funding early in March. We know this money has made a huge difference to hospices and the next £75 million will continue to help them invest in their buildings, facilities, and digital infrastructure. "While this one-off investment has been very welcome, it's critical that we continue to work with government to secure long-term reform to ensure hospice care is there for everyone who needs it, whoever and wherever they are. "The government has just emphasised the importance of hospices in their 10 Year Plan for the NHS and the role they can play in shifting care from hospitals into the community. With the right support, there is so much more they can do to realise the vision set out in the 10 Year Plan. We look forward to working with government to make this a reality." And Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of Marie Curie said: "Marie Curie welcome this grant funding, which we will be investing in helping to ensure people living with terminal illness are well cared for across England - whether in our hospice buildings, or in their own homes through improvements in use of digital technology 'We look forward to working with the Government to ensure longer-term funding is put in place to ensure the best possible palliative care is sustainably available for everyone who needs it, including in their new neighbourhood health centres in the most deprived communities.' Hospices receiving funding in full Children England West Midlands 906,009 Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service (MAIDENHEAD) England South Central 143,868 Alice House Hospice (HARTLEPOOL) Adults England North East 182,598 Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (CAMBRIDGE) Adults England East Of England 706,038 Ashgate Hospicecare (Chesterfield) Adults England East Midlands 633,770 Barnsley Hospice (Barnsley) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 240,117 Bassetlaw Hospice of the Good Shepherd Adults England East Midlands 21,822 Beaumond House Hospice Care (NEWARK) Adults England East Midlands 98,556 The Hospice Charity Partnership (BIRMINGHAM) Adults England West Midlands 1,113,392 Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice (Sheffield) Children England Yorkshire And Humberside 221,517 Blythe House Hospice (High Peak) Adults England East Midlands 119,874 Bolton Hospice (Bolton) Adults England North West 321,556 Bury Hospice (Bury) Adults England North West 185,022 Butterfly Hospice Adults England East Midlands 36,645 Butterwick Hospice Care (Stockton-on-Tees) Both England North East 181,126 Campden Home Nursing CIO (CHIPPING CAMPDEN) Adults England South West 69,180 Children's Hospice South West (Barnstaple) Children England South West 814,983 Claire House Children's Hospice (BEBINGTON) Children England North West 513,514 Compton Care (Wolverhampton) Adults England West Midlands 647,697 Cornwall Hospice Care (ST. AUSTELL) Adults England South West 482,954 Demelza Hospice Care for Children - Demelza Kent (Sittingbourne) Children England South East Coast 726,405 Derian House Children's Hospice (Chorley) Children England North West 345,812 Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation - Willow Burn Hospice (Lanchester) Adults England North East 71,909 Dorothy House Hospice Care (BRADFORD-ON-AVON) Adults England South West 886,978 Douglas Macmillan Hospice (Stoke-on-trent) Both England West Midlands 985,433 Dove Cottage Day Hospice (Melton Mowbray) Adults England East Midlands 27,927 Dove House Hospice (HULL) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 332,097 Dr Kershaw's Hospice (Oldham) Adults England North West 277,090 East Anglia's Children's Hospices (Cambridge) Children England East Of England 657,927 East Cheshire Hospice (Macclesfield) Adults England North West 388,471 East Lancashire Hospice (Blackburn) Adults England North West 256,539 Eden Valley Hospice (Carlisle) Both England North West 276,661 Ellenor (Northfleet) Both England South East Coast 404,132 Farleigh Hospice (Chelmsford) Adults England East Of England 804,804 Forget Me Not Children's Hospice (Huddersfield) Children England Yorkshire And Humberside 225,696 Francis House Children's Hospice (MANCHESTER) Children England North West 456,213 Garden House Hospice (LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY) Adults England East Of England 369,785 Great Oaks Hospice (Coleford) Adults England South West 74,748 Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice (LONDON) Adults England London 692,418 Halton Haven Hospice (Runcorn) Adults England North West 166,182 Harlington Hospice Association (KINGS LANGLEY) Adults England London 346,552 Haven House Children's Hospice (WOODFORD GREEN) Children England London 265,338 Havens Hospices (Southend on Sea) Both England East Of England 783,256 Heart of Kent Hospice (Maidstone) Adults England South East Coast 288,828 Helen and Douglas House Hospice Care for Children and Young Adults (OXFORD) Children England South Central 492,205 Hope House Childrens Hospice (OSWESTRY) Children England West Midlands 434,393 Hospice at Home West Cumbria (WORKINGTON) Adults England North West 101,692 Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland (DALSTON) Adults England North West 93,861 Hospice in the Weald (TUNBRIDGE WELLS) Both England South East Coast 594,580 Hospice of St Francis (Berkhamsted) Adults England East Of England 364,857 Hospice of the Good Shepherd (Chester) Adults England North West 243,555 HospiceCare North Northumberland (ALNWICK) Adults England North East 55,858 Hospiscare (Exeter) Adults England South West 539,545 Isabel Hospice (Welwyn Garden City) Adults England East Of England 349,756 Jessie May (Bristol) Children England South West 68,779 John Eastwood Hospice Adults England East Midlands 37,651 Julia's House (WIMBORNE) Children England South West 393,945 Kate's Home Nursing (CHELTENHAM) Adults England South West 26,529 Katharine House Hospice Adults England South Central 106,311 Katharine House Hospice (Stafford) (STAFFORD) Adults England West Midlands 292,620 Keech Hospice Care (STREATLEY) Both England East Of England 569,259 Kemp Hospice (Kidderminster) Adults England West Midlands 65,565 Kirkwood Hospice (HUDDERSFIELD) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 481,264 Lakelands Hospice (Corby) Adults England East Midlands 27,910 Lawrence Home Nursing Team Adults England South Central 28,758 Lewis-Manning Hospice Care (Poole) Adults England South West 146,139 Lindsey Lodge Hospice (Scunthorpe) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 233,137 Longfield (Minchinhampton) Adults England South West 150,687 LOROS Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice (Leicester) Adults England East Midlands 908,253 Marie Curie (Head office) (LONDON) Adults National National 3,741,578 Martin House (WETHERBY) Children England Yorkshire And Humberside 435,788 Mary Ann Evans Hospice (Nuneaton) Adults England West Midlands 111,447 Mary Stevens Hospice (STOURBRIDGE) Adults England West Midlands 249,600 Mountbatten Isle of Wight (NEWPORT) Adults England South Central 995,867 Naomi House and Jacksplace Children's Hospice (Winchester) Children England South Central 363,155 Noah's Ark Children's Hospice (Barnet) Children England London 343,815 North Devon Hospice (Barnstaple) Adults England South West 309,979 North London Hospice (London) Adults England London 849,842 Saint Michael's Hospice (HARROGATE) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 419,864 Nottinghamshire Hospice (NOTTINGHAM) Adults England East Midlands 216,116 Oakhaven Hospice (LYMINGTON) Adults England South Central 469,395 Overgate Hospice (Elland) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 251,077 Pendleside Hospice (Burnley) Adults England North West 285,768 Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice (FARNHAM) Adults England South East Coast 827,194 Pilgrims Hospices In East Kent (Canterbury) Adults England South East Coast 872,396 Primrose Hospice (Bromsgrove) Adults England West Midlands 86,956 Princess Alice Hospice (Esher ) Adults England South East Coast 792,957 Priscilla Bacon Hospice Care Ltd Adults England East Of England 11,537 Prospect Hospice (Wroughton) Adults England South West 380,937 Queenscourt Hospice (SOUTHPORT) Adults England North West 411,471 Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (Loughborough) Children England East Midlands 433,026 Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care (WATFORD) Both England East Of England 835,737 Richard House Children's Hospice (London) Children England London 257,538 Rosemary Foundation - Hospice at Home (PETERSFIELD) Adults England South Central 51,690 Rossendale Hospice (Rawtenstall) Adults England North West 75,687 Rotherham Hospice (ROTHERHAM) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 363,202 Rowcroft - The Torbay and South Devon Hospice (Toruqay) Adults England South West 474,903 Royal Trinity Hospice (London) Adults England London 954,730 Saint Catherine's Hospice (Scarborough) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 313,138 Saint Francis Hospice (Havering-Atte-Bower) Adults England London 573,393 Severn Hospice (Shrewsbury) Adults England West Midlands 688,781 Shipston Home Nursing (Shipston-on-Stour) Adults England West Midlands 30,618 Shooting Star Children's Hospices (Hampton) Children England South East Coast 509,193 Sidmouth Hospice at Home Adults England South West 50,777 Sobell Hospice Charity Limited Adults England South Central 235,825 South Bucks Hospice (HIGH WYCOMBE) Adults England South Central 57,314 St Barnabas Hospices (WORTHING) Both England South East Coast 1,864,066 Springhill Hospice (Rochdale) Adults England North West 335,915 St Andrew's Hospice (Grimsby) (Grimsby) Both England Yorkshire And Humberside 277,767 St Ann's Hospice (CHEADLE) Adults England North West 677,719 St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice (Lincoln) Adults England East Midlands 709,550 St Catherine's Hospice (Crawley) (Crawley) Adults England South East Coast 609,426 St Catherine's Hospice, Lancashire (Lostock Hall, Preston) Adults England North West 500,160 St Christopher's Hospice (LONDON) Adults England London 1,569,819 St Clare West Essex Hospice Care Trust (Hastingwood) Adults England East Of England 434,835 St Cuthbert's Hospice (DURHAM) Adults England North East 205,458 St Elizabeth Hospice (Ipswich) Adults England East Of England 714,417 St Gemma's Hospice (LEEDS) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 675,424 St Giles Hospice (LICHFIELD) Adults England West Midlands 641,379 St Helena Hospice (COLCHESTER) Adults England East Of England 711,249 St John's Hospice Adults England London 440,816 St John's Hospice, Lancaster (Lancaster) Adults England North West 379,872 St Joseph's Hospice (London) (London ) Adults England London 938,909 St Joseph's Hospice Association (LIVERPOOL) Adults England North West 200,161 St Leonard's Hospice (YORK) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 426,238 St Luke's Cheshire Hospice (Winsford) Adults England North West 252,533 St Luke's Hospice (Basildon) (BASILDON) Adults England East Of England 453,446 St Luke's Hospice (Harrow And Brent) (Harrow) Adults England London 527,405 St Luke's Hospice (Sheffield) (Sheffield) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 770,529 St Luke's Hospice Plymouth (Plymouth) Adults England South West 665,871 St Margaret's Hospice (Somerset) (TAUNTON) Adults England South West 611,916 St Mary's Hospice (Ulverston) Adults England North West 258,538 St Michael's Hospice (BASINGSTOKE) Adults England South Central 258,005 St Michael's Hospice (Hastings & Rother) (St. Leonards-on-Sea) Adults England South East Coast 440,829 St Michael's Hospice (Hereford) (Hereford) Adults England West Midlands 499,423 St Nicholas Hospice Care (Bury St Edmunds) Adults England East Of England 292,742 St Oswald's Hospice (Newcastle upon Tyne) Both England North East 751,441 St Peter & St James Hospice (North Chailey ) Adults England South East Coast 234,096 St Peter's Hospice (Bristol) Adults England South West 753,756 St Raphael's Hospice (SUTTON) Adults England London 395,307 St Richard's Hospice (Worcester) Adults England West Midlands 512,652 St Rocco's Hospice (Warrington) Adults England North West 265,263 St Wilfrid's Hospice (Chichester) (Bosham) Adults England South East Coast 423,855 St Wilfrid's Hospice (Eastbourne) (Eastbourne ) Adults England South East Coast 537,573 Sue Ryder ( London) Adults National National 3,750,000 Teesside Hospice Care Foundation (Middlesbrough) Adults England North East 224,192 Thames Hospice (Maidenhead) Adults England South Central 672,002 The Darlington & District Hospice Movement (St Teresa's Hospice) (Darlington) Adults England North East 230,736 The Myton Hospices (Warwick) Adults England West Midlands 671,378 The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House (Kings Lynn) Adults England East Of England 244,593 The Prince of Wales Hospice (Pontefract) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 211,175 The Rowans Hospice (Waterlooville) Adults England South Central 513,362 The Shakespeare Hospice (Stratford Upon Avon) Adults England West Midlands 96,648 Treetops Hospice Care (RISLEY) Adults England East Midlands 196,402 Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services (Blackpool) Both England North West 615,213 Tynedale Hospice at Home (Hexham) Adults England North East 47,593 Wakefield Hospice (Ossett) Adults England Yorkshire And Humberside 235,143 Weldmar Hospicecare (DORCHESTER) Adults England South West 525,405 Weston Hospicecare (Weston-super-Mare) Adults England South West 214,899 Wigan and Leigh Hospice (Wigan) Adults England North West 369,258 Willen Hospice (MILTON KEYNES ) Adults England South Central 431,061 Willow Wood Hospice (Ashton-under-Lyne) Adults England North West 181,350 Willowbrook Hospice (Prescot) Adults England North West 299,610 Wirral Hospice St John's (Wirral) Adults England North West 393,841 Woking & Sam Beare Hospice (WOKING) Adults England South East Coast 481,630 Woodlands Hospice (LIVERPOOL) Adults England North West 59,820 Zoe's Place - Baby Hospice (Coventry) Children England West Midlands 225,490 Article continues below Be the first with news from Mirror Politics BLUESKY: Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. 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Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway garden to open for charity under Scotland's Gardens Scheme
People can enjoy wandering around the gardens of Kings Grange House near Castle Douglas while listening to jazz music. Kings Grange House near Castle Douglas will be open under Scotland's Gardens Scheme this weekend to raise funds for the RNLI and Marie Curie. Jazz musician Dave McCullough, together with friends, will be performing a varied programme of music to enhance the enjoyment of the garden and homemade cream teas will be available. In previous years it has been a delight to listen to the music whilst exploring the garden and having a cuppa. Kings Grange has an extensive garden surrounded by mature trees and shrubberies, with views to the south west over the surrounding countryside. Originally Victorian, the garden has been restored by the present owners with a colourful variety of herbaceous mixed borders, beds and rockeries mainly to the front of the house. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The gardens are open from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday and admission is £5, children free. The garden is also open by arrangement until August 31. To get to Kings Grange House (DG7 3EU) take the B794 north off the A75, two miles east of Castle Douglas, and the house is approximately one mile on the left.
