Life, Death (and the Rest) running from Thursday 5th to Sunday the 8th of March 2020 is our annual 4 day event of talks, workshops, tours and film that supports a growing social movement talking about death, and how we remember our loved ones.

Kate Cherrell kicks of the festival with a Memento Mori: Victorian Mourning Jewellery talk. From elaborate hair wreaths to enormous brooches and impossibly expensive black jewels, mourning jewellery displays a devotion and beautiful morbidity that our contemporary lives lack. Other talks include Traditions of Death and Burial on Sat 7th March at 12pm in the Anglican Chapel, and Memorial Tattoos by the fantastic Dr John Troyer on Sunday at 11.30am.

Your online life will outlive you and will ensure you’re remembered for eternity. But in this age of fake news and cyber fraud, what happens if your online legacy gets hacked and messed with? Do data privacy laws apply once we die? How do you pass your online accounts and virtual assets to a loved one after you’re gone? None of it is as easy as you might think, so what do we do? Find out more at this fascinating talk by TEDx speaker Paul Wiseall from Death IO.

There will be the opportunity to come to a Death Cafe on the Sunday afternoon,  organised by Mary, Peter and Gwen; a relaxed and welcoming afternoon discussing death– with an ever-changing mix of visitors, meaning that conversation is always fresh and varied.“It’s an irony that often it’s easier to talk with ‘strangers’ than friends or families that may struggle with this topic for a myriad of reasons. Hopefully there is a feeling of sensitivity, compassion and trust at the meetings that provides a safe space for people to talk about very meaningful and personal experiences” says Mary “One of the questions asked by people who are interested but haven’t attended yet is ‘isn’t it depressing or morbid, heavy or downcast?’ I can honestly say that the biggest emotion often expressed is relief that there is an opportunity to talk about issues that society still struggles with… and yes, we do smile and share humour as well as sensitively listen to each other! There is a short break half way through the meeting to get refreshments and cake at the café too – an important part of any meeting! In fact, cake for most people is a welcoming, comforting food and is often part of ceremonies and gatherings. We then continue for the last hour, again the conversation organically happening, and have a short review time at the end”

You can see a full list of festival events here

You may also be interested in Good Grief – a festival of love and loss, Bristol 11th – 17th May, during Dying Matters Week 2020.