Nigel Starmer-Smith’s son puts Spotlight on dementia
Around 850,000 people are living with dementia in the UK, among them celebrated sports commentator, former England scrum-half and Oxford Blue, Nigel Starmer-Smith.
Nigel’s son Charlie recently released a single in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society in appreciation of the work the charity does to help his father and millions of others.
Inspired by a competition BBC 5live were running around lockdown music, Charlie, who works in the media and travel industry, returned to his hobby of music and entered what he describes as “a very personal song”.
An award-winning producer quickly got in touch to arrange a session at the world’s most famous recording studio, Abbey Road. Here, Charlie recorded his album including the single, Spotlight, about Nigel’s battle with dementia. Spotlight was released on 26th November with all the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Nigel’s diagnosis was the latest tragedy for Charlie, who lost both of his siblings at a young age and his mother, Ros, earlier this year.
He says: “I wrote the song during lockdown and was asked by my late mother, who was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer, to send it in to a competition that radio station BBC 5Live was running around lockdown music. I was reluctant, not only because the music was only a hobby I'd picked up again during lockdown, but also because it was a very personal song which I had recorded on some basic equipment in my spare room and had never for a moment thought about anyone else hearing it, let alone it being played on air. However, after my Mum badgered me almost on a daily basis, I reluctantly sent in the song.
“To my surprise, the radio producer came back to say they'd love to play it and talk to me about my dad and his struggles with dementia. I went on the show the following week and had some really positive messages. Few people, it seems, are left untouched by this disease.
“Even more extraordinary was that an award-winning producer was listening to the programme and got in touch the next day. After establishing that it wasn't one of my friends winding me up, I went to meet him at Abbey Road, played some more material and three weeks later I was back at Abbey Road recording an album. This included the single, Spotlight, which as the name suggests, aims to shine a light on this terrible disease.
“Sadly, not long after, my Mum passed away but not before I had a chance to play her the album, which was very emotional for both of us. So even if the music comes to nothing, it has been a bright spark during a pretty dark time. With my brother and sister dying when I was young, my dad is all I have left and it has made me even more determined to do something positive.
“I am giving any proceeds from the single to The Alzheimer’s Society, who are doing some fantastic research into possible links between sport and dementia as part of their Sport United Against Dementia campaign. I am dedicating to the song to my dad, but also all those who have suffered directly and indirectly from dementia. My hope is that it will help put a spotlight on this cruel disease.”
For more information on Alzheimer’s Society’s Sport United Against Dementia campaign, please visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/SUAD
