For years he was one of the best-loved actors in
one of Britain’s most popular sitcoms. But Trevor Peacock, who played bumbling
Jim Trott in the Vicar Of Dibley, can’t remember anything about it – or the
rest of his 50-year career.
Trevor, 85, famous for his stock response of ‘No,
no, no, no...!’ to just about any situation in Dibley, has Alzheimer’s disease
and has been left confused, frustrated and, at times, unable to name objects or
people.
He has no recollection of starring alongside
comedian Dawn French and others in the much-loved show, and is baffled when he
is recognised by fans.
His daughter Sally said: ‘As a character actor, he
has made so many people laugh for such a long time. Sadly, now he doesn’t
understand why people want to come up to him to talk to him or thank him for
his work.’
Trevor’s heartbroken family have decided to reveal
his struggle to raise awareness of the illness which is expected to affect more
than one million Britons by 2025, but also to share a message of hope.
His second wife, actress Tilly Tremayne and his
other children – Daniel, a writer and director, actor Harry, and Maudie, who
works for the BBC – are pulling together to make his life as comfortable as
possible.
They are also supporting the Alzheimer’s Society’s
new fund-raising drive, the United Against Dementia campaign. The message is
that we can all play our part in improving care for the 850,000 people with
dementia in the UK.
As well as regular visits from his children, six
grandchildren and one great grandchild, Trevor’s family are using art and music
as forms of therapy. Maudie, who has taken time out from her job in radio to
support her father, said: ‘Music is a great mood changer and enhancer, and I
know what will move him and make him smile.
‘I also remind Dad of as many comic moments as I
can remember. He told a joke or a story like no other and was able to make you
laugh or cry. Thanks to YouTube, I can put his favourite sketches, film clips
and music on.
‘He has rediscovered Tommy Cooper and he loves the
Pharrell Williams song Happy. It takes him out of himself and his illness and
he has a little dance.’
Sally said: ‘I wanted to do something special with
Dad that meant we could spend precious time together, and at the same time
distract him from whatever was going on in his head.
‘Dad and Tilly have the most beautiful garden which
is full of sticks and wood ready for a bonfire, and my dad is never without a
stick in his hand, or as the family fondly call it, Dad’s “pointer”.
‘So I came up with the idea of collecting these
sticks and, with some twine, securing them together to make a tree-like
structure.
‘Dad and I made the first Trevor Tree in February
2016 to feed the birds in his garden. Three months later, in May, we spent
another wonderful weekend together getting Trevor Trees into production and
larking about as we did so.
‘It was cold and rainy in the garden, but Dad was
happy and full of laughter. There was no Alzheimer’s getting in the way and,
for a while, I had my dad back.
‘When I went away he collected sticks of different
sizes and put them into order so we could make the trees when I next visited.
‘I had found something we enjoyed doing together,
and maybe it can help others as all the profits from the sale of Trevor Trees
goes to the Alzheimer’s Society.’
Trevor’s career has spanned acting on stage, film,
radio and TV and songwriting
– he wrote the 1960s pop hit Mrs Brown, You’ve Got
A Lovely Daughter, which was a US No 1 for Herman’s Hermits. He started
experiencing health problems in 2003 when he had a mini-stroke while performing
in Hobson’s Choice at the Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
In 2009, he was diagnosed with vascular dementia –
the death of brain cells brought on by a stroke – and in 2013 he was told he
had Alzheimer’s disease, in which abnormal proteins cause brain cells to die,
leading to gradual mental decline.
Sally said: ‘I first noticed a change when he was
preparing for his part in the film Quartet, which came out in 2012. He was
staying with me in London and I noticed he was struggling to learn his lines.
‘All the family was aware that he was slowly changing
and something wasn’t quite right. He was getting more forgetful – and it wasn’t
just forgetful through old age, but something wasn’t there any more. The
disease made him frustrated and confused and was beginning to take some of his
spirit and this wonderful soul.
‘When as a family we got together for special
occasions, which can be quite animated affairs, we were all aware that Dad was
no longer able to participate as he once did. Instead, he would quietly take
himself away to another room to listen to music, walk in his garden or take
himself up to bed.
‘Now it is like he is lost within himself. He no
longer knows what a daughter is, or who Sally is, but he recognises me when I
see him. A smile comes across his face and it melts my heart.
‘The last job Dad did was for Comic Relief a couple
of years ago. It was a Vicar Of Dibley sketch to raise money for the charity
‘He stopped working after that. It’s such a shame
that he can no longer remember this amazing part of his life and the happiness
he has brought to so many.’
Sadly, a further deterioration in Trevor’s health
now means he is no longer making his ‘trees’ – though Sally is still going
strong and has now produced about 120 and raised more than £700 for the
charity.
She said: ‘I am so proud of our achievement. Sadly
Dad’s health has deteriorated since Trevor Trees started 15 months ago, so now
he has very little involvement, but he is often still found with a pointer in
his hand.’
The family believe that making people with dementia
feel safe and comfortable is the most important thing carers can do.
Maudie said: ‘Websites with advice are one thing
but it requires a team effort to look after someone with dementia, and that’s
where Government help and funding should come in.’
‘My family haven’t avoided any pain but we’ve all
had each other. Sadly not everyone has that. My heart reaches out to all those
dealing with this dark condition.’
HEALTH COMMENT BY DR
ELLIE CANNON
Dementia is a terribly frightening diagnosis for
patients, but also for their families.
As a GP, I have seen the stress and worry it causes
for families as they deal not only with the distressing symptoms of the disease
but also the conundrum of caring for their relative and making sure they have a
good life until the end.
The efforts that Trevor’s family have gone to in
order to spend quality time with him mean they will continue to enjoy his
company, even if it is in a different way to before.
Everyone has had to adjust, but diagnosis with
dementia is not a full stop, even if disease progression is inevitable.
Across the board, for a whole host of diseases that
are both mental and physical, having supportive relationships and avoiding
isolation and loneliness is known to be associated with better outcomes and a
better prognosis.
As this campaign says, everyone does have a role to
play in the care of those with Alzheimer’s, and I think that is empowering for
families who often feel helpless, and tremendously therapeutic for patients.
SOURCE: MailOnline, Rachel Ellis
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