Albion dementia group enjoy Fatboy Slim visit
Albion fans in a dementia support group were treated to a performance by DJ Fatboy Slim and his uncle Denis Cook.
The pair performed during an Albion Memories meeting, a programme organized by the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation for fans with mild to moderate dementia and their families.
The group meets once a month to talk about their memories from a lifetime of supporting the club, with the hope that talking about football can help them remember more of their lives.
Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook) has long been a fan of the team and supported the club after their removal from the Goldstone Ground, with his record label Skint becoming shirt sponsors in 1999.
Norman has more recently been an ambassador for the BHAFC Foundation since 2024, and has visited previous Albion Memories meetings to share his memories as a supporter.
“My dad suffered from dementia for the last ten years of his life, and so it means a lot to me,” he said.
“It’s amazing how memories of football can just unlock people’s brains and hearts. Music does the same thing. We used to take my dad to music sessions, and when he hadn’t spoken for a week, he would still start singing and remember the songs.
“It’s wonderful seeing people just come alive again, either remembering matches they went to in the fifties or songs they learned in the forties.
“My dad couldn’t remember what happened ten seconds ago, but he remembered every word of songs from his youth.”
Norman’s uncle Denis Cook, also a DJ and musician, performed a host of classic tunes for the Albion Memories group in a sing-along performance.
“My uncle Denis is a professional singer still at 78 and I asked him if he would come along and sing some songs.
“It’s quite poignant. In memory of my dad, we’re using music and football to trigger the memories of people with dementia.”
After the performance, former manager Alan Mullery then spoke to the group about how Albion’s season has been going, with the club’s recent 3-0 victory over Chelsea a topic of particular interest.
Albion Memories is run by the BHAFC Foundation’s community wellbeing team, including former player Guy Butters.
BHAFC Foundation CEO Joe Jenkins also visited the session and spoke about the impact Albion Memories can have.
“Today was fantastic for everyone at Albion Memories, there was a room full of smiling faces and people really enjoying themselves,” he said.
“Obviously the musical performance today was a break from normal proceedings at an Albion Memories meeting, but I think music can be just as powerful a tool in helping people reminisce, as well as a lot of fun.
“It’s an incredible programme run by some fantastic people, and something we’re very proud of at the Foundation. Thank you to Denis and Norman for coming along to make today’s meeting a really special one.”
Find out more about getting involved with Albion Memories.
