Stephen Fry has called a book about death by a Norfolk tax expert and priest “About as useful as a book can be.”
Matthew Hutton put together a guide to preparing for death – from bucket lists to wills and from insurance policies to social media passwords - after realising the trauma of bereavement is often amplified for those left behind when people die without organising their affairs.
He has called the book Your Last Gift, as it is designed to help the friends and family dealing with the aftermath of a death, whether they need to know who should look after pets, what music to play at the funeral, what should happen to a house, or even where any valuables are hidden.
If it is true that nothing is certain except death and taxes, then Matthew is probably the perfect person to write this book.
After a career as a solicitor and tax advisor he is now a priest and regularly conducts funeral services.
His previous six books were all about tax and trusts, but conversations with bereaved friends led him to embark on his seventh, which includes checklists for people to work through and access to seven online documents to download, fill in and store safely.
These detail bank accounts, alarm codes and the location of everything from wills to stopcocks.
It is not just a manual and a collection of to-do lists. There are personal anecdotes, pertinent quotes and cartoons, and Matthew deliberately begins by discussing people ahead of possessions.
As well as ensuring loved-ones know how to access vital information after a death, he suggests readers consider what they would like to see or do before death, from travel destinations to writing memoirs.
The book is a short but comprehensive journey from who should be told first, to how you want to be remembered. “I don’t think that there’s a book quite like this,” said Matthew.
Celebrities including Stephen Fry and Rupert Everett agree.
“I feel that, while it's a morbid topic, people are now more than ever ready to think about it,” said Matthew. “Having realised that there were many people dying, leaving their loved ones in disarray trying to locate passwords etc, quite apart from not having a recent will or saying something about their preferred funeral arrangements, I really wanted to write something practical to help them.
“Grief is hard enough to bear, but when you can't find key information for the taxman etc, it makes the whole process that much harder.”
Stephen Fry said: “Bravo. This is about as useful as a book can be,” while Norfolk-born actor Rupert Everett, a family friend, said: “Matthew's book is a fascinating warning to those who can’t face the idea of death. As a retired solicitor and a vicar, his book has a practical and a spiritual combination which is informative and soothing at the same time. I enjoyed it very much."
Matthew is a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, supporting the Lord-Lieutenant, Lady Dannatt, in her role representing the King in the county.
He grew up on the family farm at Chedgrave, near Loddon, where he now lives with his wife Annie. He became a solicitor, specialising in tax, and then set up a tax advice business, and has managed the family farm since the death of his father in 1984.
A life-long church-goer, he became a lay reader in 1991 for the parishes of Hevingham, Hainford and Stratton Strawless, north of Norwich, more than 30 years ago.
READ MORE: New home for Norfolk School of Gardening
In 2010 he began studying for a theology degree, which led to him deciding to become a priest. He was appointed a curate at St Stephen’s Church in Norwich, and is now a self-supporting priest in the city’s Mitre benefice, with a particular focus on St Barnabas Church in Russell Street.
He also helped set up the charity, Restored, which works to end violence against women, and has been a mentor for people coming out of prison.
Matthew is updating his own forms at the moment. “My will, letters of wishes and funeral arrangements (including the service) are in good shape. The big challenge - and this year’s project - is decluttering the house and the office, especially books and clothes,” he said. “While hoping that my own demise is not imminent. Aged ‘just’ 69, I do believe that knowing that my own ‘last gift’ is organised will make me more comfortable about dying, making the administrative jobs for Annie and our three children easier for them.
“Whatever our age or health, we need to address these realities now.”
Your Last Gift, getting your affairs in order, by Matthew Hutton, is available from yourlastgiftbook.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here