THUNDERBIRDS fans have been urged to help Alzheimer's sufferers after the death of the show's creator.
Gerry Anderson's son Jamie, from Stinchcombe, near Dursley, has been comforted by messages of support and donations following his father's death on Boxing Day. He was 83-years-old.
Even when the condition made him very frail, Gerry Anderson wanted to raise the profile of the plight of sufferers and their families - in July this year he launched Alzheimer's Society's Gloucester Memory Walk at Highnam Court.
"I just wanted to thank everyone for their incredibly kind messages of support, and for sharing their happy childhood memories – inspired by Dad's work," Jamie said on his website on Boxing Day. "I know Dad would have been blown away by the support, positivity, and kind words. I think the saddest thing would have been if he had passed without being noticed, but the response has been the total opposite. Thank you."
Gerry Anderson was diagnosed with dementia around two years ago and in July he told The Citizen: "I first realised something was up when I was driving home from Pinewood Studios and it took me at least six hours for me to find my way instead of the usual one.
"I've been driving that route for over 20 years, so it was a real shock. My wife Mary and son Jamie said they noticed little things earlier than that though.
"I was using strange ingredients to make soup for example and putting the kettle in the sink.
"They finally persuaded me to see my GP who carried out some tests. I was upset when I found out I had dementia but I try to stay positive and enjoy every day."
Gerry Anderson will be fondly remembered by generations as the creator of children's television classics such as Thunderbirds and Joe 90.
The producer helped pioneer "supermarionation" in the 1960s – a puppetry technique using thin wires to control marionettes.
He collaborated on many of his cult programmes with his previous wife Sylvia, including Captain Scarlet and Stingray.
The series followed the efforts of International Rescue and the Tracy family.
It enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s and the Tracy family home - Tracy Island – became one of the most famous ever "makes" on BBC children's programme Blue Peter.
Anderson, who has an MBE, was born in north London, and lived with his wife, Mary, near Henley-on-Thames, until he moved to a care home in October.
He was diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago and became a celebrity campaigner for the Alzheimer's Society, helping to raise awareness and money for the charity.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive at Alzheimer's Society said: "Gerry Anderson has been an outstanding supporter of Alzheimer's Society and campaigner on behalf of people with dementia.
"He was determined, despite his own recent diagnosis, to spend the last year of his life speaking out for others living with dementia to ensure their voices were heard and their lives improved.
"With the support of his family, Gerry tirelessly attended events around the country to raise awareness of the condition and to raise funds for a cure.
"The last time I saw Gerry was at the start of our annual Memory Walk in September where he was our guest of honour and star starter alongside Carey Mulligan. Gerry, accompanied and supported by his son Jamie, stayed to speak to the crowds, wave off the walkers and shake hands with the many friends and fans who had come to meet him.
"Gerry Anderson will be missed not only by the worldwide fans of his TV shows, but by all of us at Alzheimer's Society who he has inspired to continue in our work to ultimately defeat dementia.
"Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Mary, son Jamie and all the Anderson family."
As well as Mary and Jamie, Gerry Anderson leaves children Joy, Linda, and Gerry Junior.
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/RememberingGerryAnderson
Gerry Anderson's son Jamie, from Stinchcombe, near Dursley, has been comforted by messages of support and donations following his father's death on Boxing Day. He was 83-years-old.
Even when the condition made him very frail, Gerry Anderson wanted to raise the profile of the plight of sufferers and their families - in July this year he launched Alzheimer's Society's Gloucester Memory Walk at Highnam Court.
"I just wanted to thank everyone for their incredibly kind messages of support, and for sharing their happy childhood memories – inspired by Dad's work," Jamie said on his website on Boxing Day. "I know Dad would have been blown away by the support, positivity, and kind words. I think the saddest thing would have been if he had passed without being noticed, but the response has been the total opposite. Thank you."
Gerry Anderson was diagnosed with dementia around two years ago and in July he told The Citizen: "I first realised something was up when I was driving home from Pinewood Studios and it took me at least six hours for me to find my way instead of the usual one.
"I've been driving that route for over 20 years, so it was a real shock. My wife Mary and son Jamie said they noticed little things earlier than that though.
"I was using strange ingredients to make soup for example and putting the kettle in the sink.
"They finally persuaded me to see my GP who carried out some tests. I was upset when I found out I had dementia but I try to stay positive and enjoy every day."
Gerry Anderson will be fondly remembered by generations as the creator of children's television classics such as Thunderbirds and Joe 90.
The producer helped pioneer "supermarionation" in the 1960s – a puppetry technique using thin wires to control marionettes.
He collaborated on many of his cult programmes with his previous wife Sylvia, including Captain Scarlet and Stingray.
The series followed the efforts of International Rescue and the Tracy family.
It enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s and the Tracy family home - Tracy Island – became one of the most famous ever "makes" on BBC children's programme Blue Peter.
Anderson, who has an MBE, was born in north London, and lived with his wife, Mary, near Henley-on-Thames, until he moved to a care home in October.
He was diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago and became a celebrity campaigner for the Alzheimer's Society, helping to raise awareness and money for the charity.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive at Alzheimer's Society said: "Gerry Anderson has been an outstanding supporter of Alzheimer's Society and campaigner on behalf of people with dementia.
"He was determined, despite his own recent diagnosis, to spend the last year of his life speaking out for others living with dementia to ensure their voices were heard and their lives improved.
"With the support of his family, Gerry tirelessly attended events around the country to raise awareness of the condition and to raise funds for a cure.
"The last time I saw Gerry was at the start of our annual Memory Walk in September where he was our guest of honour and star starter alongside Carey Mulligan. Gerry, accompanied and supported by his son Jamie, stayed to speak to the crowds, wave off the walkers and shake hands with the many friends and fans who had come to meet him.
"Gerry Anderson will be missed not only by the worldwide fans of his TV shows, but by all of us at Alzheimer's Society who he has inspired to continue in our work to ultimately defeat dementia.
"Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Mary, son Jamie and all the Anderson family."
As well as Mary and Jamie, Gerry Anderson leaves children Joy, Linda, and Gerry Junior.
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/RememberingGerryAnderson