Alastair Stewart: I can still recall the chilling moment I was given my diagnosis - it left me breathless ()
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52639486%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3DttHjuh6JCsW" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p class="">I remember with chilling clarity our final session with the dementia consultant after he had confirmed the MRI scan had shown evidence of vascular dementia but not Alzheimer's. He said ‘this was the good news' and then handed my care back to my GP and cardiologist.</p><p>We asked “what happens now?” in terms of treatment and care, and he left me a little breathless when, in effect, he said “that’s it”. Although he stressed there were many good charities out there who could be very supportive. He gave us some leaflets and I remember telling Sally in the car on the way home how disappointing I found that. She replied by saying perhaps he was just “being honest” which is better than giving false hope. </p><p>That said, our GP has been brilliant. We saw him recently, and he was pleased with my blood pressure but not cholesterol so he tweaked my daily prescription cocktail and we’ll see him again soon. Onward and upward.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>Shortly after going public, Alzheimer’s Research UK got in touch with me. Our daughter had helped act as the go-between and I also spoke to them. </p><p>They impressed me in our first lengthy phone chat and I stressed I didn’t have Alzheimer’s. They stressed they funded research into dementia generally so that was good enough for me. We did a big interview for them, which is up for an award, and got us on BBC Breakfast, which is edited by a close and trusted friend, Richard Frediani. </p><p>I was thrilled this week to hear my old friend and former PM David Cameron had become its President. I knew of his passion for conquering the diseases through our mutual friend Lord Peter Chadlington, and David had sent me a lovely message when I went public about my dementia. Also, his mother had died with Alzheimer's so it really did, and does, matter to him. </p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Alastair Stewart in Living With Dementia photo" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5422b7bde193f2c09d02101ac35f575b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="fb881" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/alastair-stewart-in-living-with-dementia-photo.png?id=54415001&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><p>I first met David when we worked together at Carlton TV in London, he is a very clever man and delightful company as is his clever wife Sam - who did so much to support charities when they were in Number 10 with weekly receptions. It was gold dust to the lucky charities she chose to invite. </p><p>Last week was also Rick Mayall’s birthday, who died so young and too soon. It was all over social media with clips from the New Statesman - an all time favourite of mine and one of the best sitcoms ever. I also remember the brilliant Young Ones produced by another old friend from the Carlton days, Paul Jackson, a loyal friend from my time on ITV.</p><p>Back on current affairs, I welcomed the Government’s abolition of NHS England as an administrative strata between Ministers, medics and patients.. It reminded me of a conversation I recently had with our eldest Alex about the dead-weight of management consultants, quangos, and other private sector players between the citizens and our democratically elected governments. They don’t only cost a lot but replace part of the public service ethos with the profit motive. And that serves no one well. Politics and government are at their best when men and women of passion and beliefs stand for office and are elected by us.</p><p>They also tend to appoint and promote people of merit to get the job done for us…. I will always remember one senior Margaret Thatcher lieutenant telling me he thought many of Boris Johnson’s problems flowed as much from poor appointments as from his own character flaws. As Napoleon said: “Give me good and lucky generals”. If Starmer really believes the state is flabby and ineffective, and is willing to act on that, we may be heading for seriously better days. He just needs to see that it is too big, too and tries to do too much. </p><p>Away from politics, we were once again lucky enough to go to the Cheltenham Festival, as guests of the Jockey Club. It equalled great sport, blissful surroundings and great company of old and new friends. It was great to see and hug again Olympian dressage rider Carl Hester, a close friend of both of us. Also, there again was one of the best sports presenters on TV and Radio, Lee Mackenzie who, with Jennie Gow, proves women are best at presenting and reporting on F1. Many of the lads are just too laddish; there are exceptions especially former drivers like Damon Hill and David Coulthard.</p><p>Among our new Cheltenham friends was a woman who owned and ran an engineering company. Women, she said, are hard-wired to solve many engineering and IT challenges, a belief shared by former Trade and Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt. Also on our table was a former soldier now a barrister who had an AI App on his phone, which he asked what he should know and talk about if he met me at a lunch party. It was awesome - as was the conversation. We were also joined by a farmer and his wife gravely concerned about Inheritance tax. It was a family farm and they had a son and daughter who planned to turn it into a nature and wildlife sanctuary. </p><p>A lovely idea but it won’t feed many of us. He also worried about the impact of rising National Insurance on his ability to employ folk. I also saw and chatted with Willie Carson who had broken his foot. He laughed when I told him I had broken my hip when pushed over by my daughter’s horse. Mick Fitzgerald was there too, a great and lovely man who I’d met before so we chatted away about horses.</p><p>I was also asked by the guests, if I had the chance to interview Putin, would I do it? Without hesitation I replied yes. As I wrote last week, I think he wants a return to the old days of the USSR. One guest said he’d ask Putin what Russia would be like in twenty-five years… I said I would, too. There was much affection and respect for GB News around the table, and I’m delighted to tell you I will be back on the channel to help present coverage of the Budget.</p><p>All in all it was a wonderful day out for both of us.</p>
