A Harmonica for Ronnie

Dementia. Ronnie’s Story

Dad was an amazing man, I know all sons would say that, but Ronnie Seymour / dad was and is my hero. Dad taught me so much in the way he raised my brother and I. his work ethic, his skills around the house making and building everything from the cupboards to the bricks in the garden wall. But most importantly as a man devoted to his wife and family.

Ronnie was a real character, and even as the Dementia stole many aspects of the man we knew and loved away from us right to the end everyone would comment on the twinkle in his eye! Oh the stories I could share with you, from his pride and joy motorbike, a Vincent Black Shadow, to his garage filled with every type of nail and screw possible just waiting for that next project, the hand built canoe strapped to his bike which as lads we were embarrassed to walk with him, to his DIY roller-skates he made so he could go out with his grandchildren, yes it’s all true, and so much more!

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 1

Dad outside their bungalow that was the only house they ever owned. Dads was born at No 13 Mead way and when they got married, they purchased No 3 Mead way for the princely sum of £2000 in 1961. Mum moved out of the property and into sheltered accommodation in 2024

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 2

I took Mum and dad to the Ace Cafe in London on several occasions as it brought back many memories for Dad as this is where they used to often go on dates with their Vincent Black Shadow motorbike.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 3

Dad holding Framed print of his Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle with myself and my brother sitting on the bike at their bungalow. This picture was the topic of many conversations as dad dementia took hold and even though his memory was fading, he could still recite the performance figures of the bike and tell most components of the main bike components.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 4

Dads daily pils to help put out by mum with a glass of water

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 5

This was the last card Dad wrote to mum for her birthday. I remember helping dad choose the card in John Lewis.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 6

Dementia has no filters !…

Dad was struggling to write the card and after writing Lots of Love he turned to me with a wicked smile and a naughty giggle and said “Shall I sign it from Big Bol++cks” , he thought about it for a moment, giggled and said I better just put from Ronnie !

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 7

Dad often sat at their E`rcol dining table always covered with a cloth to protect it looking endlessly over bills and letters.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 8

Dad sitting in their lounge with their dog Maisie looking at an old photo book

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 9

Dr Razak from Burnham Health clinic. He was a great doctor who let us call him personally on many occasions to discuss dads health. Here a=was the time he came around their house to personally deliver the news about dads condition.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 10

Goodbye till tomorrow… This was a very hard day. We had just dropped dad of at a nursing home as it was becoming increasingly difficult to manage him for my mum. That night was the first night in her life mum had slept by herself having grown up as one of eight children she always previously shared a bed with her sister until her wedding night. This picture still brings a tear to my eye.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 11

I used to take mum almost every other day to see dad and quite often they were like young lovestruck teenagers, sneaking a little kiss and just cuddling oblivious to all that was going on around them in the care home.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 12

Mum, Dad and a friend he met in the care home.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 13

Dad was a real smiler and always laughing all his life and nothing changed even as dementia set in. He was always being cheeky and a little naughty making jokes with the nurses.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 14

Dad played the Harmonica all his life, its one of the few sounds we have of him now he’s passed.

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 15

Sometimes I just forget

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 16

I Need your Help

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 17

How did I forget

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 18

Im Still Here

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 19

I know what Im looking for

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 20

Always there for you

The last picture I took of Dad , just a week before he left us. One year on from entering the home he was now totally bed ridden.

Magnum Photo Agency

John Easterby 9 years Head of archives at Magnum Photo contacted me saying ‘These are the best and most poignant images I have ever seen on this subject’

Video highlights from the opening evening.. Music by Paul Lamb

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 21
Dementia. Ronnie's Story 22

These twenty images were displayed in The Andipa Gallery for a month where owner Nicholas Andipa graciously donated a floor of his galley in Londons Knightsbridge for a month to help raise awareness during world Alzheimers month.

The opening night was packed with family, friends and artists where we all enjoyed an evening catered by Philip Small events and music played by the great Blues harmonicist Paul Lamb. Fil starughn sang two songs by Luther Vanross. The evening was completed with an auction where toastmaster Graham Doorwood took care of proceedings auctioning two gold plated Danneker Harmonicas donated by Antony Danneker. Fil Straun and Jeremy Price graciously bid the highest to take home these beautiful harmonicas.

Probably one of the most surreal times of my life but a humbling experience to be taking down works by Picasso, Chigal, Banksy  and Damien Hirst and replacing them with my work for a month. Thank you Nicholas Andipa for the time and space you gave us all.

SETTING UP THE EXHIBITION

Setting up Dementia Exhibition at Andipa Gallery

Images from the opening night

Pictures from the evening

Other Articles on Ronnies Story

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 61

See the interview on Sky TV News Channel

A short slide show #rememberme #dementiafriends ( WARNING.. this is very emotional ! )

Daily Mail article on Ronnies Story with over 3800 shares and 466 Comments !

An Art exhibition celebrating Ronnies life at London’s oldest Art Gallery in Knightsbridge. With special thanks to Gallery owner Nicholas Andipa

Andipa Art Gallery

BBC article on Living with Alzheimer’s: A harmonica for Ronnie

Custom Harmonicas by Danneker . A Harmonica for Ronnie

The Huffington Post, The Story Of What It’s Really Like To Love Someone With Dementia

The Daily Mirror

The Daily Express

The Chrissy B Show Sky TV

A short film on Ronnies Story

A short documentary film by Neale James on Living with Dementia. Ronnies Story

Out takes that didn’t make the final 20 but add to the story

Dementia. Ronnie's Story 62
Dementia. Ronnie's Story 70

EARLIER TIMES

The only sound we have of Ronnie

Kind Comments

Beautiful and sensitive work Mark. Thanks for sharing.

Graham Warrellow

Very moving. The power of photography and the fabulous memories that it preserves.

Murray Carle
  1. Carol McLernonCarol McLernon My husband’s family are going through this too My father in law 92 (who incidentally won the DFC during 2nd world war) is suffering from this disease and it’s terrible to watch such an intelligent and gifted gentleman turn into someone who now suffers this way
  2. Trudi JamesTrudi JamesEditWhat a beautiful montage to your dad
  3. Alison ThorneAlison Thorne Moved me to tears to Mark its beautifully done, I know exactly what you’ve all been going through as you know we went through exactly the same with Mum it’s the hardest thing, Auntie Winnie has done an amazing job in her care for him she is a very strong woman, thinking of you all x
  4. Jane MoteJane Mote Terribly sad, such a beautiful tribute to a lovely man and devoted couple. Sending our love to all of you from Dave and Jane xx
  5. Harry SharmaHarry Sharma Very touching Mark, beautiful photos & full of emotion.
  6. Judy KanarJudy Kanar, this slideshow is breathtaking in its poignancy. What you capture in each frame wouldn’t fit into a thousand words. I lived with this while watching my mom’s journey with Alzheimer’s, so can identify a little, and with all my heart, I wish you and your mom strength and love to manage this heartbreak and still find the beauty that’s hiding within.
  7. Martin WillsMartin Wills Its a great montage and it shows the love your family has for your dad.
  8. Sara JamesSara James Dear mark. Thank you so much for this beautiful piece on your Dad. My sister and I are going through the very same thing with our Dad, and although it is hard to read it, i do hope that it raises more awareness about this awful disease, so that in the future, there is more that can be done. Sara
  9. Kirsty McHattieKirsty McHattie These photographs are incredible and so poignant. A real tribute to your father.
  10. Frankie GardnerFrankie Gardner Going through same thing with hubby right now. Terrible disease! Had to put him in frail care as I could not cope any more. He cannot walk, see, or feed himself most of the time

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Info

Mark Seymour is world renowned documentary photographer, His work has been featured in National Geographic and he is a Three time winner of UK wedding photographer of the year. The first Nikon UK ambassador for unposed documentary wedding photography. And the first photographer to be awarded a double Fellowship & Master Craftsman photographer (akin to 3 Michelin stars)by his industry peers.
His work appears in the National Portrait Gallery and he teaches courses on Street and travel photography

Mark Seymour Photography
Phone 07786 377197