Memory walk: Lesley’s story
Lesley describes how she signed up to Glasgow Memory Walk in memory of her dad Bryan
Lesley’s story
My dad Bryan was an amazing, clever, caring man who loved his family and loved being around people.
He was very funny and a great conversationalist, with an endless supply of bad dad jokes.
It was devastating for the whole family when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and to see him gradually lose his ability to hold a conversation.
Me, my twin sister Julie, and stepmum Izzy all worked together to look after him and we made the most of the time we had with him. He passed away in 2022, aged 84. We still miss him every day.
I wanted to sign up to Alzheimer Scotland’s Glasgow Memory Walk to raise money and awareness for a charity that’s very close to my heart.
It’s a lovely way to remember dad and I hope that the money raised can help other families like mine who have been affected by dementia. My sister Julie tragically died while out walking almost two years ago, so I’ll also be thinking of her on the day.
It’s been a very difficult few years, but I have a lot of happy family memories to look back on. Dad was very creative and I remember he was always making things, from pieces of furniture to go-karts and sledges for me and Julie.
He became an expert in computing just as the first machines were being built. He worked for the BBC and was very proud to have introduced their first ever computer systems, and to have created the gameshow Catchword which was broadcast on the BBC in the 1980s for 10 years.
Dad was a very active person and would often take me and Julie skiing in Glencoe in all weathers, or around various golf courses. He was just a wonderful dad. I see a lot of him in my son Cody, who’s 20, super-smart, and studying at Glasgow School of Art.
I feel blessed in that, right up to the end, dad still recognised us and he was in his own happy world. It was tough for us as a family to see the changes in him, but it gives us comfort that he was well looked after and content.
I’m very much looking forward to the Memory Walk and to helping Alzheimer Scotland to continue their amazing work.
