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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

The song that lifted the veil of dementia

A music therapy group at a care home in Oxfordshire
Care workers and residents at a music therapy group session at a care home in Oxfordshire. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer

When my late husband was in the last stages of dementia (Letters, 21 September), and had lost the ability to talk, I took to his care home an old cassette of the Welsh tenor David Lloyd. When the singer began Myfanwy, my husband looked at me, smiled, and recited all the words of the song: it was the last time that I heard his voice. I will for ever treasure the memory.
Christine Edwards
Veryan, Cornwall

• I understand that Rishi Sunak’s pledge to fine people £10 for missing a GP appointment may be back on the table (Rishi Sunak considers banning cigarettes for next generation, 22 September). I hope this practice becomes reciprocal throughout the NHS – my dentist will owe me £40.
John Lovelock
Bristol

• Hoping to read something about world-beating Brexit Britain as Europe’s latest “fashion capital” in Jess Cartner-Morley’s report from Milan fashion week (20 September), instead I was shocked to read that this year’s trend was the “quiet luxury” of a logo-less baseball cap. Just one question: which way round should I wear it?
John Rathbone
Kidderminster, Worcestershire

• Re testing for dementia (Letters, 22 September), when my late husband was asked to name the prime minister, he replied “That imbecile!”, an answer that has been correct for the last 10 years.
Kaye McGann
Standlake, Oxfordshire

• Interior monologue is often best left where it is (‘A lot of biopics depend on likeness – this is braver’: Gabriel Byrne on playing Samuel Beckett, 22 September).
Peter Dewar
London

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

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