At Oxford’s Story Museum this weekend (29th and 30th October) there will be a specially constructed Mexican Day of the Dead Altar. As Genny Ramirez, one of the curators, writes below, this marks a very different approach to the dead than the European cultural tradition. (Full details of opening times under “Diary of Events” on this website) … More This weekend at the Story Museum
Dr Phil Hammond, GP and BBC presenter, blogs for us… ‘Don’t ever tell a patient how long he or she has left to live. You will rarely succeed.’ This advice was drummed into me by a wise consultant over thirty years ago and it would appear from this recent analysis of 12,000 prognoses that we … More A word of advice from the doctor!
After a packed performance at the North Wall last night we officially launch the festival today – 25th October – with an event at Blackwells at 5 pm with Rachael Chadwick author of 50postcards. A chance to hear her extraordinary story, eat delicious skull biscuits, fill in one of our postcards and see our beautiful … More Today’s the Day – it’s all Kicking Off!
An Evening with Dr Phil Hammond: Monday 24 October 2016: Oxford Town Hall Don’t miss this exciting evening – come and join us for an evening of laughter brought by this comedian – a frequent guest on Countdown, Have I Got News for You, The News Quiz and many others. Come and listen to this … More Stop Press! How Long Have I got?
The Festival is thrilled that on November 5th comedy writer Paul Mayhew-Archer, joined by friends Andy Hamilton (Radio 4, The News Quiz, etc., ) and neuroscientist and Professor of Laughter Sophie Scott, will be presenting “Laughing in the Face of Death”. See elsewhere on this website for full details. In the meantime here’s a few … More 2 Catherine Wheels and a Packet of Sparklers
Sophie writes: Charlotte and I arranged funerals for both our parents that reflected them both as amazing people, and also our feelings for them. Its not a hands on tips list, but may inspire others to confidence re painting or decorating a coffin for their loved one. I hope so! When our mother died, my … More Coffin painting – an inspiring story
Grace Noble is Senior Partner with local Solicitors Lee Chadwick. She was also a nurse. This unusual combination gives her valuable insights in her work, as she explains here. Grace is a member of the panel for “Speed dating with Death” on 5th November at the Festival– When asked ‘what do you do?’ my first thought is … More A Solicitor with a nursing background…
