05/05/2026
Here’s Miles Bingham with a copy of Deadheaded, a memoir about Alzheimer’s, which I had the honour of publishing last week. I first worked with Miles on London Can Take It, a World War II memoir that was written by his late mum, Valerie, and published by Miles posthumously. The book was an absolute pleasure to work on as Valerie was a gifted writer and brought to life that time in his history (the Blitz, being evacuated to the Lincolnshire countryside) with vivid descriptions and a dry humour that often made me chuckle in front of my computer screen. I was delighted when Miles returned with this project. Many years later, Valerie faced a different challenge: a husband who had started displaying dementia symptoms from his mid 50s. She cared for him for over 30 years and documented that experience with the same unflinching candour. For Deadheaded, Miles decided to include his own recollections of those years and update the story from when Valerie stopped writing and, in a cruel twist, began to struggle with cognitive decline herself. This dual voice memoir is incredibly moving and will no doubt chime with anyone who has dealt with the complex emotions and day-to-day practicalities involved in providing long-term care for a loved one. Deadheaded: Two Parents, Two Donated Brains, One Alzheimer’s Journey is available from Amazon as a paperback and eBook.