Edward Downes Edward Downes Sir Edward Thomas ("Ted") Downes, CBE (17 June 1924 – 10 July 2009) was an English conductor, specialising in opera. He was associated with the Royal Opera House from 1952, and with Opera Australia from 1970. He was also well known for his long working relationship with the BBC Philharmonic and for working with the Netherlands Radio Orchestra. Within the field of opera, he was particularly known as a conductor of Verdi. He and his wife, Lady (Joan) Downes, committed assisted suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland on 10 July 2009, an event that received significant media
Joan, Lady Campbell Joan, Lady Campbell Joan, Lady Campbell (c.1775 – 22 January 1828), formerly Joan (or Joanna) Glassel(l), was an American-born Scottish heiress who was the second wife of John Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll, and the mother of the 8th Duke. Joan was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the only daughter of John Glassel who had emigrated from Longniddry; some accounts say she was born in Longniddry after his return. Glassel was a member of a Lowland Scots family, and his wife, the former Helen Buchan, was also Scottish. Glassel owned extensive property in Virginia, which he signed over to his brother