Open Meeting in Ambleside Parish Centre - Speaker Simon McDermott from Alzheimer's Research UK
Tue, Oct 15th 2019 at 7:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Simon and his father Teddy Mac, a dementia sufferer, became TV and Youtube celebrities after their famous carpool karaoke rendition of Quando, Quando, Quando.
The Rotary Club of Ambleside Kirkstone held an open meeting on Tuesday
15th October when the guest speaker Simon McDermott, Regional
Fundraising Officer for Alzheimer’s Research UK told his very personal story of
his father’s journey with Alzheimer’s.
Simon’s
father Ted had worked as a Butlin’s Red Coat and entertainer. Simon told how he helped his mother Linda
cope when his father developed obsessive and aggressive behaviour, how it took
many years and several attempts to get help and a diagnosis. Ted had always enjoyed singing and
performing and members heard how Simon’s coping strategies developed into
something amazing whilst raising awareness and also raising funds for
Alzheimer’s UK. To give his mother some
respite Simon would take his father out for a drive in the car and they would
both sing along to the various tunes and songs which his father had performed
many years ago. At the age of 80 Ted
became an internet sensation when the
video of his rendition of the song
Quando, Quando, Quando went viral. Ted has
become known as the “Songaminuteman” and has released an album of some of his
favourite songs.
Rotarian Colin Fell who had organised and promoted the annual Duck Race gave the vote of thanks and presented Simon with a cheque for Alzheimer’s Research UK for £2,500.
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