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Ashgate Hospice > Life’s Final Chapter
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Exhibition Photos About Billy Bye Behind The Scenes Frequently Asked Questions Your Feedback
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Welcome to Life’s Final Chapter – a collection of real stories about death and dying.

Talking about death and dying can be tough and even a bit uncomfortable. It’s a topic many of us prefer to avoid, but it’s so important to face it openly and honestly.

With Life’s Final Chapter, we’re inviting you into a special collection of photographs that tell real stories about death and dying. These images, captured by the talented Billy Bye, offer a look at the experiences of our patients, as well as the incredible staff and volunteers who support them.

The photos are accompanied by the personal stories of those featured, providing a deeper understanding of the joys and challenges that come with life’s final chapter. Through their generous participation, our patients, families, and team members have allowed us to share a rare glimpse into what it means to live fully, even as life draws to a close.

Colin Boynton

“Death is the hardest thing in life we have to deal with, and we never really get over it, just learn how to live with it.”

Alan Cohen

“They say you’re born, you live and you die – that's about all there is to it. You can drive yourself crackers if you think too much about the meaning of life.”

Georgia Crapper

“I feel a lot of love when it comes to death. Even though I have lost the most important person in my world, the love remains.”

Sophie Dudley

“I’m grateful that I can make a difference to others who experience death. That's a real privilege.”
Kimberley Greaves

“I really didn’t think it could happen in our small family, but I’ve come to accept that death is real and can happen to anyone at any time.”
Tracie Holocuk

“What brings me most comfort and keeps me going, is that one day I will get the chance to hug my daughter again, and I want her to be proud of what I have achieved in her absence.”
Lung Li

“We’re all on a journey and that journey: birth, life and then you die – everybody is going to go through that, it doesn’t matter who you are.”
Amy Marsh

“My experiences of death as a hospice nurse have helped me to appreciate life more than ever. I now feel incredibly lucky to have the things that I have. Life is precious and should be celebrated as much as possible.”

Kathy Martin
Kathy Martin

“Now I find myself at peace and unafraid of my approaching death. Albeit I hope I live as long as possible as we have been given the most wonderful world to enjoy.”

Graham Matthews

“The death of my wife Diane has made me realise just how precious life is. I now like to think of life as a celebration and a tribute to the people we love and remember.”

Richard Matthews

“Hang on to the slightest sign of hope and care, rise above your negative thoughts and cling onto the care you get from others.”
Stephen Rumford

“At some point it is worth remembering that death is natural, normal and inevitable and that all things from moments to empires are impermanent. A matter of hold on tightly and let go lightly I guess.”

Michael Siddall

“Enjoy the time you have left and make happy memories for your family and friends to treasure.”
June Spreckley

“We must understand that death is part of all of our lives and we can make a difference if we recognise that fact.”
Monika Zywicka

“Death has taught me not to take life for granted. Every day is a gift, spend that time with the people in your life who matter most to you.”

About the photographer

Billy Bye is a fine art photographer and visual artist from Derbyshire. Billy captured the portraits for the exhibition, and we are incredibly grateful to him for giving his time and expertise to the project free of charge. His work routinely uses social documentation as commentary at its foundation.

View Billy’s work at www.billybye.photography

Billy Bye

Behind the scenes footage

This video gives a behind the scenes glimpse into Life’s Final Chapter, as well as contributions and views from some of the people that took part around the subject of death, dying and bereavement. Thank you so much to Emily Brown Films for supporting us by creating this video.

Frequently asked questions

Life's Final Chapter
What is the Life’s Final Chapter online photo exhibition?

The Life’s Final Chapter online exhibition is an initiative by Ashgate Hospice designed to facilitate open conversations about death, dying, and bereavement within the community. Through powerful imagery and personal stories, the exhibition aims to encourage understanding, empathy, and dialogue around these important but often challenging topics. 

How does the Life’s Final Chapter exhibition encourage dialogue about death and dying?

Through poignant imagery and personal stories, the exhibition provides a platform for visitors to reflect on and discuss the realities of death, dying, and bereavement. It aims to break down barriers and encourage empathy and understanding among attendees. 

How were the images and stories in the Life’s Final Chapter exhibition chosen? 

We wanted to learn from the diverse experiences of those who’ve walked different paths in life. So, we reached out to patients, staff, and volunteers, asking them to share their personal stories and reflections on their journey with death, dying and bereavement. In the end, 15 incredible individuals opened up and shared their unique perspectives to help us all better understand this deeply human experience. 

How long will the Life’s Final Chapter Exhibition be available online?

The gallery will be available online indefinitely.  

Is the Life’s Final Chapter exhibition available to see in-person?

We will be hosting a pop-up gallery at the hospice between 7 October and 29 November. This will be in the corridor leading to the cafe. 

Your feedback

We'd love to know what you think about our Life's Final Chapter exhibition. Please fill in our feedback form to tell us more.

Thank you so much for your feedback!

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A special thank you

We want to thank everyone involved in the Life’s Final Chapter. Your willingness to share such personal stories made this project very special, and we are so grateful for your openness and courage. These stories have touched many, and it’s been a privilege to bring them to life.

Thank you to Billy Bye for taking these amazing photographs, and to Emily Brown Films for capturing behind-the-scenes footage.