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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Health
Sam Volpe

St James' Park memory café helps fans with dementia like Tom, 66, reminisce with NUFC idols Bob Moncur and Malcolm Macdonald

A memory café for people living with dementia has seen a lifelong Newcastle United fan spend time with Toon Army idols like Bob Moncur, Malcolm Macdonald and Nobby Solano.

Tom Trainer, 66 and of Denton Burn, lives with Alzheimer's disease. A big football fan who played competitively until he was past 50, visiting the monthly memory cafés at St James' Park has helped him to feel part of the club, even as his illness means he's no longer able to attend games on matchday.

Each month, the café is visited by an NUFC legend. The idea is to help support people with dementia and help them to reminisce about sporting glory from years gone by. Tom's wife Angie - the couple have been married 48 years - said: "Tom absolutely loves the dementia café at St James’s Park. Unfortunately, he can’t attend live games anymore as it’s just too overwhelming for him, but going to the café is something he always looks forward to.

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