Football fan with dementia walks out with England
Monday 13 October 2025: A Hayes resident who benefits from Hillingdon Council's range of support for those living with dementia had a once in a lifetime opportunity when he accompanied the England football team in their friendly against Wales on Thursday 9 October.
Football fans were nominated from across England and Wales to represent the many different faces of dementia in the UK. Baldev was one of 22 people living with dementia given the opportunity thanks to a partnership between the Alzheimer's Society and the Football Association (FA).
He has been accessing support from the council since 2017 and regularly joins the Forget Me Knot FC dementia walking football sessions at Rectory Park Football Centre, Northolt every Friday, which were developed by the Uxbridge Amblers. These sessions are funded by the council and delivered in partnership with the amblers and Middlesex FA. In addition, Baldev also participates in the council's dementia library groups and enjoys playing golf and boccia.
He was joined at Wembley by his wife Kulwant, two daughters and their husbands, and four grandchildren, while the rest of the family watched from home.
Baldev and the other player escorts had the opportunity to meet the England team in the changing room before the game.
Baldev said: "It was a lovely experience, and nice to talk to the team."
Kulwant added: "Initially Baldev said 'I'm too old to go to Wembley! As we got closer to the game, he was excited, and everybody was saying to him 'you're so lucky' and he smiled.
"It was amazing and so memorable. Baldev was first on the pitch and leading the team.
"Everybody was really excited. Baldev loves football. On Saturdays he sits on the settee all day watching."
Kulwant said the activities and support her husband receives from the council had been beneficial. She explained: "When we started, he didn't want to go. Now he's happy to go because I think he feels everybody is welcoming, and he knows everybody.
"It's helped me - if there's something on my mind I can talk to people because everybody's in the same boat. We're like a family now."
The couple first heard about the opportunity to be one of the player escorts at the Golden Crescent Sikh temple, which they attend.
Cllr Jane Palmer, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: "We provide a range of support and opportunities for residents living with dementia, and their families, to help them live healthy and active lives, meet new people and socialise, and rely on the success of our partnerships with the Alzheimer's Society, Uxbridge Amblers and others to deliver these.
"This was a wonderful experience for Baldev and his family, and I'm so pleased to hear of the fantastic time they had at Wembley, but also of this worthwhile initiative to raise greater awareness of those living with dementia and the condition."
