Sir Edward Downes, the conductor emeritus of the BBC Philharmonic, and his wife Lady Joan Downes have died at the assisted suicide clinic Dignitas in Switzerland. The couple's family said that they decided to end their lives together after struggling with serious health problems. Lady Joan, 74, is understood to have been suffering with cancer while Sir Edward, 85, had become virtually blind and suffered loss of hearing.
The couple's family said that they decided to end their lives together after struggling with serious health problems.
Lady Joan, 74, is understood to have been suffering with cancer while Sir Edward, 85, had become virtually blind and suffered loss of hearing.
