A man woke up one morning to find he could no longer speak or remember his wife's name - but could still play the banjo.

Graham Anstee woke up terrified when he couldn't read or string a sentence together or remember the names of his family one morning last September.

But when the 75-year-old picked up his banjo, he was reassured to discover that he hadn't lost his touch on the instrument.

The dad-of-three had suffered a stroke overnight and was forced to learn how to live again.

Mr Anstee, from Gillingham in Kent, is now speaking out on how his music helped him rebuild his life after his stroke cruelly robbed him of his speech and memory.

"I'm retired, physically fit, active, and generally well," Mr Anstee, who still gives banjo lessons, said. "I went to bed a bit earlier one night as I wasn't feeling too good."

"When I got up the next morning, I was feeling fine, but soon realised I couldn't remember anybody's names, which was quite a frightening experience. "

"I couldn't remember my wife Josie's name or those of my children, Charmaine, Natasha and David."

"I made breakfast as usual and knew where things were, no problem. I played my banjo, which was fine and all off by heart."

"At some point, I found that I couldn't read words, letters, and numbers. I just didn't know what they were. "

"I couldn't string words together; my understanding of them had gone completely."

"I couldn't understand the loss of my memory with certain things, and yet how I could still play my banjo. "

"I was bewildered by that. They say it's muscle memory, but I don't know."

Suspecting he may have had a stroke, Mr Anstee's wife and daughter took him to Maidstone Hospital.

Despite not having typical symptoms after tests, doctors confirmed he'd suffered a stroke.

They said it was likely a result of his high blood pressure.

Mr Anstee had also suffered an earlier stroke in 2019, which affected his eyesight.

He's now sharing his story as part of Stroke Awareness Month to highlight the positive impact music and singing can have for stroke survivors.

Mr Anstee says he counts himself lucky that he didn't suffer any other physical disabilities from his latest stroke.

However, he admits that though his memory has begun to return, he still has some difficulty with reading and writing.

"At first, when I started to look at my music, I couldn't understand the words or the way that the musical notation was put together," Mr Anstee continued."

"It gradually came back over a six-week period, and now I'm back teaching again. I haven't lost any of my teaching ability. "

"The occupational therapist said it would continue to get better, too."

As well as giving banjo lessons, Mr Anstee also plays for Bishop Gundulf's Morris Dancers and for an Appalachian dance teacher in Faversham, as well as taking part in local folk music sessions and festivals.

He says playing music has been the perfect post-stroke therapy, saying: "The music has helped me as I can sit indoors and play by myself, which is quite relaxing and takes my mind off all kinds of things."

"Emotionally, it's always at the back of my mind that I might have another stroke. "

"If I had come home and not done anything, I would have got very depressed - I couldn't imagine that."

Mr Anstee was supported throughout his recovery by the Stroke Association's Medway and Swale Stroke Recovery Service, who offer stroke survivors opportunities to regain their confidence and independence, helping them to rebuild their lives after strokes.

A recent survey from the Stroke Association revealed that over half of stroke survivors found singing, listening to music or playing an instrument had a positive impact on their stroke recovery, with two in five also saying music had a huge impact on their recovery.

The charity has launched a new fundraising initiative called Sing4Stroke, where people can sing from wherever they choose to raise funds to support stroke survivors and their families.

Nick O'Donohue, Associate Director for The Stroke Association in the South East, said: "Every day in May, 240 people will wake up to the catastrophic impact of a stroke. "

"It can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow. With strength, determination and the right support, recovery is possible."

"The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families."

"We provide tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year and fund vital stroke research and campaigns to secure the best care and support for everyone affected by stroke."

"By raising your voice for stroke survivors this May, you can help stroke survivors like Graham and their loved ones to find strength through support."

You can sign up to Sing4Stroke at: www.stroke.org.uk/singing