Max Bygraves’ son releasing father’s Christmas hit for charity

The 89-year-old comedian, singer and variety performer, whose catchphrase was “I wanna tell you a story”, died in September suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

His son Anthony has now released a remastered version of his father singing the popular Christmas track Mary’s Boy Child in support of the Alzheimer’s Society.

The song, originally distributed in 1998 on a Christmas party album, has been released for download.

Bygraves said: “Songs and music have played a huge part in my life and have now inspired this recent project involving my late father who passed away in early September with Alzheimer’s disease. As a family, we would be thrilled to hear our irreplaceable father’s voice on the airwaves again.

“We really want to raise lots of money for the Alzheimer’s Society, to support other families who have also been affected by dementia.”

Liz Monks, the director of fundraising at the Alzheimer’s Society, added: “One in three people over 65 will develop dementia, so the condition will touch most of our lives at some point.

“We are all so grateful to Anthony and the rest of the Bygraves family for thinking of us and generously releasing a single in support of our cause.

“The money raised will help us continue to support people with dementia and their carers today, and fund research to find a cure for tomorrow.”