Real stories

‘I used to be scared of singing out loud’ – finding my voice after my dementia diagnosis

I’ve always loved music and been musical. I learned to play the guitar when I was around 16 and, when I was 18, I became a disc jockey. From the late 1960s until the early 80s, I was 'Funky Fred'.

DJ-ing was a sideline I had alongside my career in engineering. I did weddings, birthdays and I also had a couple of residencies around Leicestershire and Warwickshire. 

I mainly played disco, but then when punk came along, I started doing Northern Soul.

I loved doing it but, as the kids grew up, it wasn’t so easy to get out and I had to give my van and everything up. After that, I used to play my guitar in a few folk groups but that’s about it.

My dementia diagnosis journey

My diagnosis journey has been hard.

During the pandemic, I was told I had Alzheimer’s disease and we were left to it – there was no support or follow-up.

Then three years ago, I was sent to a memory clinic in Leicestershire and they told me it wasn’t Alzheimer’s, it was dementia with Lewy bodies. But now, my doctors in Norwich do think it’s Alzheimer’s without them ever meeting me.

This experience of not really knowing what’s wrong has been tough and confusing. But I’m trying to make the best of things, to take every day as it comes.

Music continues to be important to me. I can’t remember passwords, but you give me a music quiz and I’ll come up with all the answers!

I love musical theatre – the Sound of Music, Les Mis and South Pacific – but my real passion is rock, like Status Quo, Queen and Cream.

I play the piano and keyboards, guitar, banjo, harmonica… and I can play the fool sometimes too!

Finding my voice since my diagnosis

I’ve always liked to challenge myself. When I was in my 50s, I did a BSc in computing and mathematics through the Open University.

Since I developed dementia, I’ve also lost all my inhibitions.

I used to be scared of singing out loud – I was sort of a shy person – but that’s gone now.

I go to a dementia singing group at my local library, I’d also play the keyboard for them if they’d let me! 

We had a talent show – I took my guitar and sang ‘Streets of London’ in front of 40 people.

I’ve also tried karaoke for the first time at a respite home. A few people said, ‘You can do this, Fred, you’ve got a nice voice,’ and so I got up and did ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra. I got a massive round of applause. I’d like to do it again.

I’d have never done this before dementia but I’ve got no fear now.

Singing on my own is an empowering experience. It makes me feel positive and I can be as loud as I like!