I didn’t even know my wife’s name

job,” he continued. “I felt totally useless for months as I was slowly re-learning the world around me – re-learning who friends and family were, even simple things like who Father Christmas was.

“I developed anosmia – a loss of sense of smell – and can only taste ‘tastes,’ not flavours, which can make so many foods just seem like eating ‘cotton wool.’”

Around 500,000 people are affected by encephalitis globally each year – regardless of their age, gender, ethnic origin or culture.

Those who survive can face an uncertain future as the condition can leave them with an acquired brain injury, meaning a return to work or education can be difficult.

Abilities such as memory, attention, concentration, thinking, memory, judgement and inhibition can be affected, while there can be additional challenges such as epilepsy or fatigue.

Greg, now 55, added: “I slowly re-learned things but eight years later I still have problems remembering names and have to constantly write things down so that I can ‘look them up’ if I have to.

“I am now back working and making a new life for myself, but I fully understand how precious such simple things as memories are in our lives, which is why I want to make people aware of encephalitis and the impact it can have.”

Greg, now a van driver for online supermarket Ocado, is married to Stephanie and they have 27-year-old twins Linzi and Matthew and 21-yearold son Kyle.