Dennis Skinner is known for his firebrand politics, steadfast beliefs, annual heckles, being chucked out of Parliament and antagonising the Tories, especially David Cameron.

But what few people know about the Beast of Bolsover is the work he does outside of politics to help the community. Mr Skinner has revealed he visits care facilities to sing to patients with dementia in a bid to help them retain some of their rapidly fading memories.

Mr Skinner’s late mother Lucy was diagnosed with dementia in the 1980s. He told BBC presenter Jeremy Vine she would often sing while doing household tasks, so when her memory began to falter, he started singing to her. The veteran Labour MP says that after a few seconds of serenading her with Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn, she would show a glimmer of recognition and join in. When his sister was then diagnosed with dementia, he had the same experience with her.

Mr Skinner, 84, says he sang in the school choir and would sing in clubs and pubs while working as a coal miner, developing a passion for music.

He now visits the Shirevale Resource Centre facility in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, and sings classic songs to elderly people with dementia, often leading group renditions of his mother’s favourite, “Getting to know you”.

Loading....

“It does go back about 50 or 60 years which is important for classes like this to help with your memory and the rhythm of singing,” he said. “I discovered this when my mother had dementia, and the result was I became enamoured by this place here.”

Mr Skinner said he has been visiting Shirebrook and other homes off and on for eight years, “when Parliament is not in session or when I’ve been kicked out”. Shirevale holds regular classes for people suffering from the disease which he joins in with.

“If there is something, a little bit, that we can do to enhance their lives... I know that they had a happier time as a result of all of the singing and the use of brain co-ordination with their feet and hands and all the rest of it. I know that those two and a half hours helped those people, those 20 odd people in that room."

People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them “economic security” by reducing the Government’s spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australia’s National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said “I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality” but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, “I was just trying to say actors are more effective when they’re a mystery. Right?” Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she said“Film-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesn’t create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I don’t qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walker’s daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her father’s death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards” and attempts to “prescribe ‘new rights’ that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs.” In 2013 he described homosexuals as “worse than pigs, goats and birds.” Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (£39m) between June 2014 and June 2015.

Mr Skinner said he often wonders whether he could have ended up in a very different career from politics had he been born into other circumstances. “I never had any [singing] training. I often think now I’m a lot older, what would have happened if I was born in the middle of the city, where there was a drama class. Would it have been different?”

Despite being one of Westminister's sharpest and most active MPs, he fears that he too could develop dementia and now has a daily routine in place to ensure his mind stays active.

Dr Ian Le Guillou, a research officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said the organisation is funding a centre for PhD students to study how arts and music can benefit people with dementia.

Dr Le Guilou told the Independent: “Singing is not only an enjoyable activity, but an excellent way to bring people with dementia and their carers together to express themselves and socialise with others. At Alzheimer’s Society, we often hear of people at our Singing for the Brain support groups, not only having fun, but positively relating to music - even when many other memories are hard to recall."

Susan Drayton, a clinical lead for Admiral Nursing Direct at Dementia UK, agreed that singing is an inclusive activity for dementia patients that can prove calming and enjoyable. Ms Drayton told the Independent it can also have an effect on recall. “Music can stimulate the brain and help reconnect someone with a past memory or experience, which can aid communication and improve relationships.”