Following a string of mini-strokes, Peter Marchi’s family has been in mourning for their fun-loving, athletic father. The former reserve player for Coventry City now has a “sense of purpose.”
A sports project which aims to tackle isolation and loneliness among the older generation by reminiscing about Coventry through the lens of sport has given one former Coventry City Reserve player with dementia a ‘sense of purpose’, his family said. Peter Marchi was always a talented athlete.
He appeared for Coventry School Boys as a child, before playing football at a high level as a young man, including a stint on the books of the Sky Blues. He later garnered a reputation as a talented inside left and became one of the finest players of Coventry’s then-vibrant amateur football scene.
Later he kept fit and active with tennis, badminton and table tennis, sports he kept doing right up until a series of mini-strokes in 2022 led to Peter needing full-time care after a diagnosis of Vascular Dementia. His bereft family has been mourning losing their fun and sporty dad and grandad ever since.
Lindsay, the daughter, said: “It’s terrible to watch someone with this condition slip away slowly.” Despite having cancer for a year, my mother remained mentally unwell her entire life. It’s awful to see dad like this—physically there but rarely present psychologically.
Lindsay and her family were unfamiliar with dealing with care facilities, social workers, and determining what was best for Peter; therefore, they were thrilled to discover the ideal location. The family has found a happy home in Avalon Court since moving here.
Even though the family experiences more terrible days than good ones, Lindsay claims that they have found a monthly activity that provides them everyone a “sense of purpose.” Sporting Memories is a dementia-friendly method of looking back on the city via the prism of sport. It is a component of the CV Life and the council’s Coventry Moves project, which attempts to combat isolation and loneliness among the older generation.
The sessions, which are hosted by the legendary city athletics player Dave Moorcroft, have drawn hundreds of attendees, including some very famous Coventry athletes. Dave Busst, Dennis Mortimor, Andy Blair, and FA Cup winners Steve Ogrizovic and Dave Bennett were present.
Dave Moorcroft posed questions to Hamilton Bland, a swimmer, and legendary journalists Adam Dent, Stuart Linnell, Rob Gurney, and Clive Eakin talked about their experiences covering the city’s sporting events.
“We thought we’d lost Dad when he was diagnosed with vascular dementia, but when he’s at Sporting Memories it’s like we get a piece of him back,” Lindsay remarked in reference to the incidents. He laughs at the jokes, shakes his head in agreement, and listens to the stories while he’s there. It’s amazing to witness.
“Not only has it given us and him a sense of purpose, we’re also creating new memories, which is honestly something I never thought I’d say once he’d been diagnosed. We thought we’d lost that opportunity. That’s massive for us.
“When he’s there, everyone is so friendly, there are people who recognise Dad who played with him or against him during his football days – it makes it feel like a big family.”
Also attending the events with Peter is his brother Will and son Neil. “We all look forward to attending Sporting Memories and seeing the benefits it has on our dad and my Uncle Will,” Neil said. “Sport has always been a huge part of our family.
“Even now, I take Dad to Over 60s table tennis and sport is so ingrained in his being, his DNA, he can still hit the ball and keep a rally going. So coming to Sporting Memories and taking part is just perfect for our situation.”
“I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to take Dad to Sporting Memories,” Lindsay continued. It’s something that we all anticipate.
“We view those days as victories. When a loved one suffers with this terrible illness, there isn’t much hope or optimism, but Sporting Memories has been a glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
