“My dad faced cancer for more than a decade. No one should have to suffer as he did.”

Tim Wardle was 86 and had lived with cancer for more than ten years. He was diagnosed with inoperable kidney cancer after previously battling bladder, prostate, and lung cancer. He was principled, compassionate, and a committed supporter of assisted dying reform. He wanted the right to die at home, in peace, and with dignity. 

Sadly for Tim, he died in the hospital after a sudden and painful decline.

Tim had seen cancer devastate his family. He lost his grandfather, mother, and both sisters to the disease. He was present at one sister’s death in Canada before assisted dying was legal there and described her suffering as prolonged and undignified. That experience shaped his belief that people should have a compassionate choice at the end of life.

Tim spoke publicly about his fears as his illness progressed:

“The things I fear are a loss of dignity. And obviously, there is a pain factor. I would not want my wife and my son to see me like my sister.”

 “If this law had existed, my dad would have had a choice. He wanted peace. He wanted choice. He deserved that.””

Tim believed that nobody should be forced to travel abroad or spend thousands of pounds for a peaceful death. He explored the possibility of going to Dignitas, but felt strongly that people in the UK should not have to leave their home or their loved ones to be shown compassion at the end of life .

“I wish to die at a time and place of my choosing, before losing control of my speech and bodily functions, and with my loved ones around me. I do not believe that any authority has the right to deny me that choice.”

Under the Bill, people like Tim would be able to have honest conversations with their doctors and stay at home with the people they love when they die.

Tim believed quality of life should matter as much as duration, and that denying choice only prolongs avoidable suffering.

Charlie knows his dad would have chosen a peaceful death if the law had allowed it:

“The right to experience death on one’s terms is something he and I always agreed was humane and just.”

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has come too late for Tim. But Charlie knows it does not have to be too late for others.

“Every delay is another family going through what we did.”