Fatboy Slim attends Albion fan's dementia event

Fatboy Slim has taken part in a music session with a group of Brighton & Hove Albion fans living with dementia and their families.

The sessions are run by the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation every month, and use football and music to allow people to get together and reminisce.

The Hove DJ, whose real name is Norman Cook, is an ambassador for the charity, and attended the session along with former Albion defender Guy Butters and former manager Alan Mullery.

He said: "Two things in life people are passionate about are music and football. If you're stuck in your own mind, it can bring you out. It's a beautiful thing to do."

Alan Mullery, who first managed Brighton from 1976 to 1981, said: "I come in and try to help people remember those times, I do my best for them because they did their best for me when I was manager."

Jennifer Hutchings and her sister Diana Shaw were at the event at Brighton's Amex Stadium with Jennifer's husband, Ian, who has dementia.

Hutchings said: "It's great to get out and meet people the same way as us who also love Brighton.

"Ian gets quite emotional when he hears music and songs he knows, he used to go to all the games. We met on the way to a Brighton game when I was 17."

Many other lifelong Albion fans were also at the event. One of them was Peter Near, who lives with Alzheimer's.

He said: "It means a lot. We could have just been sitting at home doing nothing. So much effort [goes into this]."

His wife Wendy Near added: "Every month is different, today was outstanding. They do so much for us. It lifts your mood. It's so important to keep communicating, it helps the brain."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.