Malcolm Pointon
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Pointon was a pianist
and lecturer from Thriplow
, England
, and the subject the film Malcolm and Barbara - A Love Story shown in 1999 and, more recently of an Independent Television
program entitled Malcolm and Barbara: Love’s Farewell, broadcast on Wednesday, August 8, 2007.
.
After the diagnosis, Pointon's wife Barbara decided to allow film-maker Paul Watson
to document the events on film, which took place over the course of 11 years, and she felt that if her husband could have understood, he would have said "Go for it".
Mrs. Pointon had complained to the Health Service Ombudsman and prior to the report made about the case in February 2004, in September 2003 was awarded £1,000 a week by the health authority to care for her husband. In response to statements made by the Alzheimer's Society, the Ombudsman took the unusual step of mentioning her by name, stating that the case did not set a precedent.
For her work campaigning for better care of those with Alzheimer's, Mrs. Pointon was included in The Queen's Birthday Honours of June 2006 and was awarded the MBE for her work.
, because the film ended with the death of Mr. Pointon, which turned out not to be true, as Pointon had entered a coma, and died three days after the filming. His widow, Barbara Pointon, is a well known campaigner for improvements in the care of Alzheimer's.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and lecturer from Thriplow
Thriplow
Thriplow is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, south of Cambridge. The village also gives its name to a former Cambridgeshire hundred.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the subject the film Malcolm and Barbara - A Love Story shown in 1999 and, more recently of an Independent Television
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
program entitled Malcolm and Barbara: Love’s Farewell, broadcast on Wednesday, August 8, 2007.
Alzheimer's
Malcolm Pointon was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 51. from that time up to his death, he lived in Thriplow, CambridgeshireCambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
.
After the diagnosis, Pointon's wife Barbara decided to allow film-maker Paul Watson
Paul Watson (documentary film-maker)
Paul Watson is an English documentary filmmaker. He started off as a painter and artist, before moving into television in the late 1960's with documentaries...
to document the events on film, which took place over the course of 11 years, and she felt that if her husband could have understood, he would have said "Go for it".
Mrs. Pointon had complained to the Health Service Ombudsman and prior to the report made about the case in February 2004, in September 2003 was awarded £1,000 a week by the health authority to care for her husband. In response to statements made by the Alzheimer's Society, the Ombudsman took the unusual step of mentioning her by name, stating that the case did not set a precedent.
For her work campaigning for better care of those with Alzheimer's, Mrs. Pointon was included in The Queen's Birthday Honours of June 2006 and was awarded the MBE for her work.
Controversy
The program was the subject of controversyControversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
, because the film ended with the death of Mr. Pointon, which turned out not to be true, as Pointon had entered a coma, and died three days after the filming. His widow, Barbara Pointon, is a well known campaigner for improvements in the care of Alzheimer's.