Lucy Selman
I met Dame Cicely at St Christopher’s in 2004, and I remember noticing how bright and inquisitive her eyes were; sharp but kind. I started working in palliative care research shortly afterwards, in India first and later in the UK and Africa. I’m now doing my PhD exploring patients’ spiritual well being and spiritual care in palliative care services in South Africa and Uganda. Research in this field is a privilege: people share the most profound and moving stories. We try to honour those stories and experiences by influencing practice, improving understanding and care. I took this photo in our dining room at home. It’s full of books and pictures, and is quiet and peaceful, with a door to the garden. The light is quite dim but has a warm and comforting light. It reminds me of Venetian blinds. The statue I brought back from Uganda. It is quite rough and ready round the edges, but a lot of care and attention has been spent smoothing the woman’s round belly.
Research Associate & PhD Student,
King’s College London,
 
London, UK