Lottie Tomlinson urges people to break silence as she shares her heartbreak

Lottie Tomlinson urges people to break silence as she shares her heartbreakThe charity is working with its ambassador, influencer, entrepreneur and author Lottie Tomlinson, who has openly spoken about her own experiences of bereavementCommentsNewsSarah Ingram and Matt Atherton News Editor14:54, 21 Apr 2026View 5 ImagesLottie Tomlinson launches Sue Ryder’s ‘The Cab-Fare-well’ in London(Image: Sue Ryder)It’s the one life event guaranteed to affect us all - yet Brits still struggle to talk about it with their loved ones.‌A new survey has confirmed that death remains the last taboo, with 47% saying they would rather talk about it with barbers, cabbies or personal trainers than their own family.‌Around half (48%) have had a meaningful conversation about dying with a stranger before approaching the subject with a loved one, according to palliative care and bereavement charity Sue Ryder.‌People said it was easier to speak who someone who isn’t directly affected (27%) and that emotional distance helped them be more honest (24%). Two fifths (40%) admit they don’t know how to start a conversation, despite half 48% wanting to, the research found.View 5 ImagesThe campaign encourages passengers to talk about death and dying with taxi drivers(Image: Sue Ryder)Sue Ryder has launched The Cab Fare-well, offering free taxi rides in London and Manchester between April 23 to 24 with an unusual twist - the only “fare” passengers are invited to pay is an open conversation about their end-of-life wishes. Drivers, trained by the charity’s experts and pallative care nurses, will gently guide discussions about death in a bid to get the nation comfortable talking about life’s one certainty and what matters most.‌The charity is working with its ambassador, influencer, entrepreneur and author Lottie Tomlinson, who has openly spoken about her own experiences of bereavement. Lottie, younger sister of pop superstar Louis Tomlinson, lost her mother Johannah Deakin to leukaemia in 2016 and younger s...