During Melissa's illness, we both kept blogs and after she'd died we decided to combine them in a book and publish them to raise funds for the two hospitals where Mel was treated and the Lymphoma Association.  It was following their publication that I received a phone call one evening from one of Melissa's consultants, asking me to give him a call. 

"Ian was truly inspiring and everyone was very moved"

He thought the book was excellent and asked if I'd be prepared to go and speak at the Queen's Hospital Best Practice day.  I'd never done any public speaking before, but keen to give something back to those who had looked after Melissa so well, I agreed to do it.

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for coming to the conference and doing such an excellent presentation. It was so beautifully balanced Ian and touched the very soul of everyone present"

The feedback from my initial talk at Burton Queen's Hospital was excellent and other requests soon followed.  I was soon being invited to speak at training sessions to nurses, doctors and Health Care Assistants.  I also talked about my bereavement journey at counsel training sessions.  I have also presented to schools at both primary and secondary level as well as sporting clubs, Rotaries and WI's.  My shortest ever talk was 5 mins, my longest 2 hours and I have presented to groups who numbered as little as 3 and also to in access of 500.

"Hello Ian, I was at the talk you gave today at Burton Hospital and  I will definitely benefit from what you shared with us about end of life care and cannot thank you enough"

I have recently presented to CRUSE Bereavement Care on the subject of Men and Grief and also present to dementia groups on Advance Care Planning and the importance of end of life conversations around wills, funeral wishes etc.,

"Ian's presentation was the best presentation of the day, amazing and a complete inspiration"