George Rook
Name:
George Rook
Job title:
Retired School Teacher
Area of Research:
As a person living with dementia, I am one of 6 Pioneers helping to shape the Dementia Enquirers programme [1].
How is your work funded?
National Lottery Fund
Tell us a little about yourself:
I live in North Shropshire. When I left school I trained to be a Chartered Accountant – but didn’t enjoy it, so I re-trained as an English teacher and taught English in secondary schools in Shropshire for about 15 years. Then I had a little bit of a break and went back into schools as a School Business Manager. After finishing full time work in 2008, when my dementia was clearly beginning to develop, I worked part time for the British Red Cross in Shrewsbury, managing the health and care services that they offer. At age 62, with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Vascular dementia [2], I retired completely from paid work. I did however get deeply involved in promoting better awareness of dementia and better support and care for us. I have a dog called Lupin, who I walk every day at least once, and a wife who works pretty much full time, and three married children.