Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra has met “unsung heroes” from the Alzheimer’s Society – some of the staff who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to improve life for people with dementia.
The Princess, who has been Alzheimer’s Society’s Royal Patron since 1990, visited its London headquarters in St Katharine Dock on Tuesday last week to hear about work being done to help those living with dementia. She met representatives from across the organisation including IT, communications, research, fundraising and the National Dementia Helpline.
Princess Alexandra also took part in a Singing for the Brain session – one of the Alzheimer’s Society’s popular community services. Groups from Tower Hamlets and Calderdale, West Yorkshire, sang a selection of festive songs, Jingle Bells, together with the Princess.
The Alzheimer’s Society’s Singing for the Brain is a social activity that enables people with dementia and their carers to express themselves and sing with others in a similar situation. Even when many memories are hard to retrieve, music can sometimes still be recalled – if only for a short while.
Jeremy Hughes CBE, Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive, hosted the Princess during her second visit to Devon House. “We are so pleased that Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra took the time to meet some of the staff working hard behind-the-scenes to improve the lives of people with dementia. It was also great to have some festive cheer courtesy of our Singing for the Brain group,” he said. “Having been such a wonderful host of the Society’s People Awards for the past two years at St James’ Palace, it was a great honour to host the Princess here at Devon House, where she could spend time getting to know us and our work a little bit better.”
Princess Alexandra, who is the Queen’s cousin and youngest granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary, also met Alzheimer’s Society Chair of the Board of Trustees, Ann Beasley CBE and Society ambassador, Gina Shaw, who is living with dementia.
•The Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia support and research charity. It funds research into the cause, care, cure and prevention of all types of dementia and champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them. •The Alzheimer’s Society’s National Dementia Helpline is 0300 222 11 22. •For more information about the Alzheimer’s Society, go to: alzheimers.org.uk.
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