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
Sir Edward Wakefield, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Wakefield, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Birkbeck Wakefield, 1st Baronet, (24 July 1903 – 14 January 1969) was a British civil servant and Conservative Party politician. Wakefield was born 24 July 1903 in Kendal the son of Roger William Wakefield. He was educated at Haileybury and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he joined the Indian Civil Service in 1927 and served in Punjab, Rajputana, Kathiawar, Baluchistan, Central India, Tibet and the Persian Gulf. He was Chief Minister of Kalat State 1933–1936, of Nabha State 1939–1941 and of Rewa State 1943–1945, and was Joint Secretary, Political Department, Delhi, 1946–1947. He was