Sussex composer with dementia receives £1 million donation

Sir Tom Hunter, Scotland’s first ever billionaire, has made a £1 million charity donation, inspired by composer and pianist, Paul Harvey.

Paul Harvey, from Buxted in Sussex, improvised the piece after being given just four notes to play by his son.

The 80-year-old’s composition, Four Notes, has now been recorded by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter told the BBC that Paul’s story “resonated” with him after losing both his parents to Alzheimer’s.

Credit: BBC Breakfast. Sir Tom Hunter donated £1 million after seeing Paul Harvey's story.

He told Paul via video call: “We were so moved, my wife and I, when we saw your wonderful piece.

“And in a time when people are searching for good news, you lit up the screen with first of all the relationship between the father and the son, and then the relationship with music.

“To try and put a light into releasing people from Alzheimer’s. We really believe music is a key, we believe you are onto something and we really want to help.”

Inspired by the Scottish industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, Sir Tom said he and his wife wanted to use their money for good whilst they were still alive.

Dad’s ability to improvise and compose beautiful melodies on the fly has always amazed me.

Tonight, I gave him four random notes as a starting point.

Although his dementia is getting worse, moments like this bring him back to me. pic.twitter.com/dBInVCTmfF

— Nick Harvey (@mrnickharvey) September 17, 2020

“In a time when we are all searching in this confusing time, some things never change and the things that never change are a father’s love for his son and his son’s love for his father.”

The proceeds will be split between the Alzheimer’s Society and Music for Dementia.

Paul, along with his son Nick, were “overwhelmed” by the donation.

Paul said: “Wow, thank you so much. Amazing. That is fantastic, it really is.

“For all this to happen and I’m in my 80s, that’s pretty good I think.”

Nick, who lives in Crowborough, said: “Just think what you’ll achieve in your 90s.”

Nick posted the clip of his father online with the intention of showing how musical ability can survive memory loss.

The clip received more than half a million views on Twitter in less than 24 hours.

Paul, a former teacher at Imberhorne School in East Grinstead, released the single last week and it has remained at the top of both the iTunes and Amazon downloads chart.