Dementia is stealing my Helen’s memories away
Stewart tells of wife’s confusion during pandemic
SIR Jackie Stewart has revealed how his wife Lady Helen has had her memories “stolen away” by her battle with dementia. The Formula 1 legend has recorded a series of chats with famous friends to raise awareness of the disease. Lady Helen was diagnosed with frontal-lobe dementia in 2014 during a routine check-up. She is now in a wheelchair and needs 24-hour care at h ome from two dedicated nurses. Sir Jackie, 80, who founded the charity Race Against Dementia, said: “I have been fortunate to have a wonderful career and my wife Helen was by my side through it all.
“We should have been able to share those memories forever but dementia steals that away.
“When the world is, rightly, focused on the Covid- 19 pandemic, it is vitally important that the fight against dementia is not allowed to diminish in importance.”
The Memories series includes conversations with tennis legend Rod Laver, Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, impressionist Rory Bremner and Prince Albert of Monaco.
Dunbartonshire-born Sir Jackie told how the pandemic has further complicated life for Helen.
He added: “There’s no kissing and no hugging at the moment because of the pandemic. She misses that and can’t understand why.
“That’s the type of short-term memory loss that is very obvious.
“She’ll ask, ‘ Why are we not doing that?’ and I have to tell her it’s because of the pandemic. Then shortly afterwards, she’ll ask the same question.”