'I cook final meal people in hospices ever eat - they all want the same thing'

A chef who makes last for people nearing the end of their lives has revealed one of the most popular requests he receives. Spencer Richards for residents at Sobell House Hospice, which provides palliative care to adults from its site in Headington, Oxfordshire.

Mr Richards told the there is no greater privilege than making someone their final meal as he revealed how he will tailor dishes to satisfy individuals at the end of their lives. He said a frequent request made often by people in their 80s or 90s is for birthday cake.

The chef said: "They're small things, but especially for people who've been isolated or are feeling lonely, they mean a lot."

He explained that food at the end of a person's life is as much about adapting a dish as it is about cooking it.

Mr Richards said patients often lose the ability to swallow or their taste buds change because of their medication or treatments, such as chemotherapy.

He said: "Food is a powerfully emotive medium - it can summon childhood memories and create new lasting ones. That's what we do here."

The cook said many in the hospice become sensitive to salt, so kitchen staff moderate that. He said staff often find that people with cancer develop a sweet tooth.

For residents craving a sugary treat, Mr Richards can make classics, including panna cotta, crème brûlée and crème caramel.

But even simpler requests, such as jelly and ice cream, will see the chef pull out the stops to make sure they are presented thoughtfully.

He said: "We don't always know at the time what it means, but we hear back later. Families come back months afterwards, just to say thank you."

Mr Richards recalled one bereaved family presenting staff with gifts of food to say thank you to Sobell House Hospice on Christmas Day.

Such moments are part of this special chef's motivation to go the extra mile to satisfy residents. He said: "I want to give back."