Alastair Stewart: Fifty per cent of us will get dementia or be affected by it, as my partner knows well

As I wrote last week, reading isn’t the problem - but remembering where to be and when, IS another challenge. I leave it to Sally who generously sorts it all out. Carol services are most magical and at their best when they mix tradition, fun and faith. I like the biblical reading to be included - the visit of the Magi is a favourite because it records the wise men from the West, outthinking the murderous Herod.

On Wednesday, we were in Winchester Cathedral for our local hospice, Naomi House and Jack’s Place, which supports terminally ill children, teenagers and young adults, and their families. We have been supporters for decades and love visiting and doing what we can to help.

Such is the potency of the cause, and the professionalism and compassion of the brilliant staff, that they attract many high-profile supporters, including the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who held a fundraising dinner for Naomi House in Nelson’s cabin in HMS Victory a couple of years ago.

The Mayor of Winchester and MP Danny Chambers came to our carol service, as did the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. The singing was led by the wonderful ‘Voices for Hospices’ choir and our own Naomi House Chamber Choir.

Mark Smith, the CEO of the Hospice, greeted us all, and Hospice Chaplain Nicky Smallwood gave us an opening prayer. This was followed by readings from Chairman Andy Meehan, and then James Landale the BBC’s Diplomatic Correspondent who read ‘a Quiet Reflection’ by Robert Longley.

Businesswoman and Hospice supporter Monica Collings was next, then it was the turn of Sally Taylor the lead presenter of the BBC local News South Today. Sally read ‘Family’ by Glenda Campbell, We also had a reading from Lt Col Jim Phiipps, Commanding officer of the Army Training Regiment which has supported the Hospice since 2008. I felt the country and its values were safe in the hands of the men and women he trained and commanded, many of whom were in the audience.

Erika Lipscombe, Director of Care at the Hospice, read a wonderful poem written by the staff. It captured the jollity of the season and Santa's visits to the Hospice. But it did not shy from the inevitable awfulness that also occurs within the walls of the place.

Sally and I were not alone in being in tears. “There are quiet times too when we walk alongside as tragedy ensues and we hold families in grief - we’re there for each parent brother and sister with hearts tied in grief.”

For my reading, I muddled my pages but soldiered on and it was fine… As Mark Smith, our CEO, said in conclusion, we’d all had an uplifting and fun time and raised a lot of money for a cause we all pray we never have need of but thank God is there.

Thursday was the carol service for the Brooke charity of which I’m Patron. We raise money to help support working animals, especially donkeys, mules and horses, around the world working with owners, vets, farriers and local charities.

It was held in the Guards Chapel at Wellington Barracks just across the road from Buckingham Palace where HM the Queen our President recently held a reception for this clever, caring charity. Sally and I were honoured and delighted to be there.

The Choir of the Royal Military Chapel led our gusty singing and the Chaplain to the Household Division, Alex Bennett, welcomed us and led us in prayer. Our readers included the brilliant Three Day Eventer Jane Holderness Roddam CVO CBE, the first woman to win an Olympic equestrian Gold Medal and a tireless Brook Ambassador.

MORE FROM LIVING WITH DEMENTIA:

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• Dementia is upsetting, challenging and difficult - but it's not the end of the world

We also had our dear friend Rory Bremner who does so much for Brooke and has two daughters involved with horses, one was a successful junior national team competitor in show jumping.

With Rory, you never know who else is coming but we had HM the King, the PM and President-Elect Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. He was a triumph….and is touring in the spring. I recommend you go. With so much rubbish on TV purporting to be comedy and satire, it is a crime he doesn’t have a series…

On the domestic front, we got our money back from Homebase for the duck house that never arrived so we are looking elsewhere. As Storm Darragh engulfed the country, I got messages offering help from Scottish and Southern Electricity, who have me registered as having dementia.

We were okay but it was a nice and reassuring gesture. A woman from the DWP phoned to say a woman was coming to see us, hurrah! It would be so much easier if what little help is available was automatically granted on diagnosis with dementia.

Last week, I was also delighted to be asked by GB News to appear and talk about the latest data from Alzheimer’s Research UK confirming dementia as the most common cause of death in the UK. We need your support and action from the Government.

Happy Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous New Year to you all...