It was a real pleasure to see the excellent Penny Smith back on TV when she joined Eamonn Holmes on GB News earlier this week. A charming woman who, professionally, has still got it.
Despite my dementia, I remember her well as someone who truly understood breakfast TV. She was, and clearly still is, a great team player.
This week, I was honoured and delighted to be asked to provide a playlist for M4D Radio – Music for Dementia.
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Music is powerful. I can’t sing (I never could), but music lifts the spirits in those frequent dark moments. It prompts memories, through lyrics, subjects or harmonies.
My playlist includes Pink Floyd’s “Fletcher Memorial Home” and Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, both list the great and not-so-good of world history, and both are fascinating prompts for anyone living with dementia. You can find it here.
Alastair Stewart: These were my first signs of dementia
| GB NEWSI must mention the wonderful Dementia Choir, supported and made famous by the brilliant actress Vicky McClure.
It's more than a Line of Duty for her — she does it because it matters, especially after her grandmother’s dementia.
She sent me a lovely message when I received my diagnosis. It meant a great deal.
The Alaska Summit on Ukraine, between Trump and Putin, took place at Elmendorf USAF Base, allowing the U.S. to "buzz" Putin’s highly customised aircraft, the Il-96-300PU (PU stands for “command post”) with top-of-the-range fighter jets and stealth aircraft.
A very clear “look what I’ve got” moment, even before Air Force One touched down with its own “mine’s bigger than yours” aura.
This took me back. The summit's location reminded me of the old Cold War posture, when the U.S. maintained 24/7 nuclear bomber coverage, aircraft circling the North Pole, ready to respond in moments.
Here in the UK, we had our own Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) force of nuclear-armed V-bombers at bases like RAF Scampton, where my father was Officer Commanding Operations in the 1980s, as well as Finningley, Waddington, and others.
The Alaska location also brought back memories of Goose Bay, the Canadian air force base where my father served as RAF Station Commander. It was a shared NATO facility, used for strategic bomber access.
There were even competitions between the NATO nuclear air forces before submarines and missiles took over deterrence duties.
There’s still a Vulcan bomber on display at Goose Bay, a friendly reminder of the alliance and those tense, historic days.
Dad always spoke fondly of Goose Bay and had earlier studied at the USAF’s Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in the 1960s. A firm supporter of NATO all his life.
On the health front, all is steady, and there’s been plenty of joy closer to home.
Our ancient tortoise, Fredericka, was the star attraction at the Homestart children's summer party.
This weekend, we’ll be hosting our annual car boot sale in support of Homestart. Always a fun and fruitful day.