The funeral of writer Julia Darling, who died last Wednesday at the age of 48, is to take place on Friday, pretty much in accordance with her wishes.
 Close friends say she knew exactly what sort of send-off she wanted and approached the moment with characteristic good humour and courage. Those who want to say a last goodbye are invited to Newcastle Assembly Rooms, on Fenkle Street, at 1.15pm. A private burial will take place at Jesmond Cemetery at 3pm and will be followed by tea at the Northumberland Cricket Club, Osborne Avenue, from 3.30pm, to which all are welcome (though the room only holds 120). A bigger celebration of her life will be held at a later date. The list of tributes has been lengthening by the hour on Julia's website, www.juliadarling.co.uk They come from people who loved her and admired her writing, and also from those she inspired and helped. One who paid tribute yesterday was Professor Linda Anderson, head of the school of English at Newcastle University, where Julia taught. Prof Anderson said: "She was inspirational. For anyone who came into contact with her, she was so positive. "But she was also highly intelligent and knowledgeable about writing. She spoke from amazing experience and understanding of technique. "Although she came across as so nice, there was real authority there as well." Julia first joined the university staff as the holder of a Royal Literary Fund fellowship, advising academic staff how to "re-energise" their writing. Later, with funding from the Catherine Cookson Foundation, she helped to set up a course in creative writing and health. Julia wrote short stories, plays, poems and the novels Crocodile Soup and The Taxi Driver's Daughter. Two other novels remain unfinished. She leaves an extensive literary legacy, probably greater than that of Jane Austen in whose house in Winchester she grew up. Published on April 28 by Bloodaxe Books is a book of poems called The Poetry Cure, co-edited by Julia and fellow poet Cynthia Fuller, and with a cover illustration by painter Emma Holliday. It includes the work of many writers and there are six poems by Julia, dealing with her experience of being treated for breast cancer. In a passionately argued introduction, she explains how poetry kept her afloat "through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and the general ups and downs of illness". And when she says that poetry should be part of every modern hospital, "not just as something to keep patients amused", you know she really means it. Poetry, she explains, is the pioneer of language. By developing new vocabularies for pain, communication between doctor and patient can be so much more effective. The poet Gillian Allnutt remarked recently, having won the fourth Northern Rock Foundation Writers' Award, that when she returned to the North-East "all roads seemed to lead to Julia Darling". It is easy to believe. Julia's part in the intellectual life of the North-East has taken many forms, from her being a member of performance group The Poetry Virgins to her establishment of poetry publishing company Diamond Twig with fellow writer Ellen Phethean. Despite her illness, her creative output seemed to accelerate. Her musical Manifesto For A New City, written for Northern Stage and with music by Jim Kitson, expressed her feelings about the regeneration of her adopted city of Newcastle. Meanwhile, her legacy will be felt through the work of other writers. Ex-teacher June Portlock, winner of the Gateshead Short Story Competition, took up writing 12 years ago, inspired by classes run by Julia Darling. Her work was also published by Diamond Twig. "She must have done the same for hundreds of other people," said June, from Leam Lane, who became the 18th winner of the competition with her story A Rollicking Band of Pirates. You can still see Manifesto For A New City at Alnwick Playhouse on Saturday, the Customs House at South Shields (April 25-27) or Arc, Stockton (April 28). Meanwhile The Poetry Cure is on sale at £8.95. | 
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