I too was at Melly and Friends for Dementia at the 100 Club last Sunday. I've been going to see George for the past 35 yrs, and have recently read George and Diana's books which were both published last year so I was a bit prepared.
I went because although George's website optimistically says he's on a sellout tour this year he collapsed during a concert in February and from what Diana said on the radio a couple of Saturdays ago - it was probably going to be one of the last opportunities to witness George in action.
I was standing right at the front all night and was absolutely stunned when he was brought to the stage, he is tiny! His whisky suit, which Alan Yentob auctioned before he arrived, well the shoulders would have reached his elbows. Diana says that since the dementia has set in she finds it hard to get George to eat. "Last month he would eat a fish cake, this month it's a fish finger" and "Have you ever tried to scramble one egg!"
During the draw Diana was obviously concerned that things were dragging on, she wanted George to come to the stage because he wasn't too well, he has vascular dementia sometimes his condition is worse than others. George tried to talk to the audience but his voice is very weak and he began to ramble, Diana said to him, "George don't talk, sing".....but he wasn't really strong enough. I caught his eye a couple of times and they still have the twinkle in them, I hope he never loses that.
I thought Digby Fairweather and his half dozen were brilliant during George's time on stage, well they have been playing with George for many years, but it can't have been easy, after George had left the stage, I really needed the release of DF and the guys when Paul Jones joined them for a few numbers.
What an emotional night, I felt honoured to be amongst his family and friends, I'm wearing the T-shirt now! Goodtime George!
