Edward Downes after his health declined following a hip replacement. Lady Downes was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer that metastasised to her liver, and given only weeks to live. Lady Downes wrote a letter to family explaining that she had decided against treatment and that: Sir Edward, aged 85, and Lady Downes, aged 74, ended their lives by assisted suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Zürich, Switzerland, on 10 July 2009. Although Joan did not want the children present, Dignitas encouraged it and "Ted and Joanie" were reported to be pleased when the time came. Their children issued a statement speaking of
Richard Downes Jackson Richard Downes Jackson Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Downes Jackson KCB (1777 – June 9, 1845), born at Petersfield in the English county of Hampshire, was Administrator of Canada West and Canada East (1841–1842) until the arrival of Sir Charles Bagot who took the position of Governor General of the Province of Canada. Jackson was commissioned as an ensign in the Coldstream Guards on 9 July 1794. After seeing action during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 he took part in the Battle of Copenhagen during the Napoleonic Wars. He fought at the Siege of Cádiz and the Battle of Barrosa during the