Who we are
About Having The Last Word
A small practice with a simple belief: that being truly listened to, especially near the end of life, changes everything.
How this began
Having The Last Word began with Richard Maddrell sitting beside his own father in his final weeks, and noticing how rarely anyone simply asked him to talk — about his life, his regrets, his joys, the things he wanted his grandchildren to know.
That experience became a quiet conviction: that everyone deserves the chance to be heard properly before it is too late, and that the people around them deserve to keep something of their voice afterwards. What started as a handful of recorded conversations with willing neighbours has grown into a small practice spanning four areas of work — but the heart of it has never changed.
What guides us
Our values
Patience
we never rush a conversation, a recording, or a farewell.
Honesty
about what we can offer, what things cost, and what to expect.
Consent
nothing is recorded, written or shared without clear, ongoing permission.
Presence
we aim simply to be there, fully, without an agenda of our own.
Just as important
What we are not
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We are not a counselling service, and we don't offer therapy or medical advice.
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We are not a funeral directors, though we work alongside several with care.
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We are not here to tell you how to feel, grieve, or remember — only to help you do it in your own words.
The people behind it
Meet the team
Richard Maddrell
Founder & Lead Celebrant
Wirral, Merseyside
Richard founded Having The Last Word after sitting beside his own father in his final weeks, and noticing how rarely anyone simply asked him to talk. He now leads the practice, trains every new interviewer, voice-keeper, companion and celebrant personally, and still conducts conversations and services himself.
Eleanor Hartley
Voice-Keeping Lead
Chester, Cheshire
Eleanor spent twenty years as a hospice volunteer before joining Having The Last Word to lead our voice-keeping work. She has a particular gift for helping people find words for things they have carried quietly for years.
"I didn't know how much I needed someone to simply ask, and then listen, until someone finally did." — from a recorded conversation, shared with permission
Get in touch with us