LOCAL Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Terry Eccott was one of the main speakers at the International Dementia Conference held at the Guild Hall in Plymouth on Thursday, March 16.

The Alton campaigner joined speakers from all over the world including China, Japan, Belgium, and Italy.

Having been diagnosed four years ago with stage one vascular dementia, Terry Eccott has focused considerable energy and experience on helping others to understand the condition and to find ways to support those living with dementia.

At the conference he spoke for an hour on the subject of ‘Living with Dementia’ before taking questions from the audience who packed the 800 hundred capacity venue.

The chairperson for the day was TV presenter Angela Rippon who was awarded the CBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours list for her services to Dementia Care.

Ms Rippon, whose mother, Edna, was diagnosed with dementia in 2004 and sadly died in 2009, is also an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society and co-chair of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Friendly Communities Champions Group.

The conference was organised by fellow ambassador, Ian Sherriff, who is currently working with researchers from the Netherlands and Japan.

Mr Eccott said of the experience: “It was a great honour to be asked to speak at the international conference and I was overwhelmed with the response to my presentation. So many people came up to me afterwards to say thank you for inspiring them to continue their work and for helping them understand a few new things about what it is like to live with dementia.”

He added: “I will continue with my personal dementia awareness campaign as well my Alzheimer’s Society ambassadorship until I become too unwell to continue, although I have to admit it is now becoming much harder for me both physically and mentally compared to when I started, but I have been asked to return for next year’s conference and, health permitting, I will.”