Sir Terry Pratchett sets out a dignified way to go

Since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Sir Terry Pratchett has been outspoken in his support of the right for the terminally ill to die with dignity.

Sir Terry Pratchett: Britain faces tsunami of Alzheimer's disease
Sir Terry Pratchett: Britain faces tsunami of Alzheimer's disease Credit: Photo: PA

And for his own death, the author has particular hopes, Mandrake can disclose.

Speaking at The Oldie Literary Lunch held at Simpson's-in-the-Strand, Sir Terry drew gasps from the audience, which included Joanna Lumley and Virginia McKenna, when he described how he would like his own life to end. "Since I was told I had Alzheimer's my mind has been very concentrated on this," he said. "My way to end my life will be to sit on my lawn at my home in Wiltshire with a bottle of brandy and Thomas Tallis playing on my iPod. I can't think of a better way to make my departure. Hopefully the doctor will have been around earlier to give me the appropriate injection."

When I asked if he was serious he replied: "Yes. Deadly so. We are very good at living in this society but very bad at dying. We could learn a lot from the Victorians in this respect. Of course, if it's wet, I wouldn't be able to go on the lawn, I would have to change my plans. Then it would be the same way out but in my library."