Ferguson on music, memory and dementia projects

Sir Alex Ferguson would bounce down the stairs at Manchester United’s Carrington training ground on Friday mornings to perform one of his favorite songs, make fun of Kath Phipps, the club’s beloved receptionist, and then address the media about the game’s outcome.

Ferguson admitted that he wasn’t the best singer.

However, the legendary former United manager has always had a significant influence on his life.

It is now more significant for Ferguson than ever.

He can see the benefits music can have for those who suffer from memory loss, including his brother Martin, who is also affected by dementia and has an impact on how people think, act, and think.

Ferguson, 83, tells BBC Breakfast that “my staff would be aware that I was inside the building when I arrived in the morning.”

“Here he comes, close the doors,” I don’t think they liked it.

It’s just a part of you, I believe. Singing is a part of me if I’m in the shower or anywhere else.

In time for National Playlist Day, Ferguson is discussing the topic of music and dementia.

Mil and Ken Simpson, who are both in their 80s and belong to a group of United season ticket holders, are meeting with him at a Cheshire hotel. Mil, 89, has been living with dementia since 2010 three years prior to Ferguson’s retirement.

Mil and Ken’s lives have been heavily influenced by music, and they regularly participate in various weekly organizations that offer dementia patients music, singing, or dancing.

Ferguson had been making his dementia-related concerns known to Breakfast for the first time in 12 months.

He was persuaded to devote more time to the subject because the response was overwhelming. He has recently become a Playlist for Life ambassador.

He replies, “It caught me a real bit. I’ve gotten a little bit more involved with myself.

Ferguson has witnessed firsthand the effects of dementia.

He claims that he and my brother are in a situation. It’s difficult, they say. I must keep in touch with him a lot. He recognizes me, but my memory isn’t very good.

He’s not bad, though. Let’s say that he’s not getting any worse, which is very encouraging.

Ferguson responds with “yes,” when asked if dementia is something that bothers him.

He replies, “Yes, because I’m his brother.” He is important to me because I only have one brother and are a year apart from him.

“It’s always in my head,” I said. You might ask, “I wonder if he’s in right now” or whether I should call him. Every day, I make an effort to do that.

I keep telling him to “Write things down.” He frequently forgets things, but I believe he makes an effort to do that.

You may be concerned about whether your memory will hold up as you get older.

“I’m 84 in December, and there are times when I forget things.” No-one has a perfect memory, even though I probably did it 20 or 30 years ago. The memory has always been significant when it comes to football, especially when I was a manager. I sing a lot, read a lot, and do a lot of crossword puzzles right now.

“I have a inclination to go back in time to the American Civil War.” I thoroughly enjoyed visiting a few of America’s battlegrounds.

Lady Cathy Ferguson’s wife passed away on October 5, 2023. The couple had been married for almost 58 years.

He claims that he spent a lot of time in the house after my wife passed away.

I moved into the country next door to my son, but it’s not good enough for me to watch TV while I travel. I visited Bahrain, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

Take control of yourself. I’ve enjoyed engaging in therapy with the dementia group. I enjoy doing it.

Ferguson is still a fixture at United games despite having won 38 titles in his 26 years at Old Trafford.

His legacy continues, and it appears that he can recall as clearly as the journalists who attended his famous news conferences.