HAVE you ever written an inspiring poem?

That is the question being asked as Mountbatten seeks aspiring writers to enter a competition, based on the themes of living, dying and remembering.

The best will be read out at the Mountbatten Festival Concert which being held at 7pm on October 31 in Newport Minster, as part of The Art of Dying Well programme.Entrants need to submit their poem before Tuesday October 23.

The concert will be a highlight in the weeklong event The Art of Dying Well, which explores the subjects of death, dying and bereavement through the performing arts between Monday, October 29 to Sunday, November 4.

The festival is aimed at encouraging people to talk openly about death and dying, challenging the taboo and supporting people to have healthy conversations about the one sure thing that affects us all.

The programme has been created by the team of end of life experts at Mountbatten, with associates from the arts, commerce and all corners of the community.

A number of events will be held throughout the week, including: 7pm to 9pm, Monday October 29 at Quay Arts, Newport - Acoustic Open Mic – An open mic night, but with a difference. An opportunity to think about songs you would want played at your funeral.

Also, 11am to 6pm on Thursday, November 1 at Lord Louis Library, Newport; Plan your future care– what would happen if you could no longer make your own decisions about how you wanted to be cared for?

Further details of events are on the Mountbatten website.

Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten Chief Executive said: “For many of us, death and dying are taboo subjects that we brush under the carpet and, most of all fear. Fear, denial and lack of knowledge may get in the way of dying well – planning our exit ahead means less uncertainty where we have choices and, for those we leave behind, more comfort knowing that they will be carrying out our wishes.

“I hope that this first edition of The Art of Dying Well will encourage more people to feel supported to start having important conversations, using the medium of arts and performance. I would like to thank the wide range of people who have been involved in supporting us to make this week happen and, because we believe it is such a vital issue, we are expecting to build on it in future and make it an annual event.”