THE assisted suicide of a conductor and his wife at a Swiss clinic has sparked renewed debate about the issue.

Sir Edward Downes and his wife Joan, from Blackheath, died at a Dignitas assisted-suicide clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 10.

BBC Philharmonic conductor Sir Edward, 85, was almost blind and increasingly deaf while former choreographer and TV producer Joan, 74, was terminally ill with cancer.

During his career, Sir Edward conducted the first performance in the Sydney Opera House, was honoured by four music colleges and was knighted in 1991.

In a statement, their son and daughter Caractacus and Boudicca said: “After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems.

"They both lived life to the full and considered themselves to be extremely lucky to have lived such rewarding lives, both professionally and personally.”

Assisted suicide is allowed in Switzerland but is currently illegal in Britain, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years.

Chairman of Greenwich Pensioners’ Forum Francis Hook said: “I think there needs to be a debate on the issue.

“As it’s already happening there must be an open discussion now and people shouldn’t be under the risk of facing criminal charges.

“Historically, we’ve often had couples who want to die together because they can’t live without each other. It goes back through centuries.”

She added: “If we are to allow this it has to be placed in a very careful legal setting.”

Greenwich CID is now investigating the circumstances of the couple’s deaths.