Dementia became a huge part of my family’s life and the devastation from it is staggering (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)It was 2014 and my guitarist James Wiseman and I went over to my Nanny Bennett’s, to play her some music.Standing in front of her, by her bed, for the first time in a very long time, we saw her smile.Nanny Bennett was my dad’s mum and she had been living with vascular dementia.
Her disease had taken away her ability to move or talk, so we were overwhelmed with happiness to see her smile.She had always been a big lover of music and very supportive of mine, and just then, I knew that against all odds, she remembered and felt happy.Two years before this, I had lost my Nanny Martin, from my mum’s side, from vascular dementia.
Dementia became a huge part of my family’s life and the devastation from it is staggering.I was already recording music when I was a teenager, and my entire family was so supportive (Picture: JB Lacroix/WireImage)Nanny Martin was an amazing Nan – she was kind and strong. She brought up my Mum and her four brothers – five kids overall.
She was the helm of the household while my grandad worked, and then went back to work herself. She was a chatty, kind and beautiful woman who wore lovely outfits and I still wear her shoes now.In 2003 when I was 12, I spent a month living with my grandparents while I was doing a show at the London Palladium and we had such a special time together.
I remember baking with her – .
