ALTON Lions president Michael Gwynne visited the Royal British Legion clubhouse in Anstey Park to present a cheque for £700 to dementia-friendly Alton to support organised meetings in the town for folk living with the condition.

This was one such session, made special not because of the donation of money raised at the Lions’ autumn quiz at the RBL clubhouse in November but by the presence of petting animals from Mill Cottage Farm at Holybourne.

Alton was the first town in East Hampshire to become dementia friendly.

Launched in 2014, the initiative was supported by many dementia and care organisations and more than 40 High Street retailers, who now display a sticker in their windows to show people that their staff have been trained to provide appropriate help and support to people with dementia and their families.

Run by dementia adviser Sarah Gardner, with help from volunteers, including interim chairman Karen Murrell, the charitable organisation currently operates three support groups for folk with dementia, their families and carers, among them the legion legends for men, a memory lane singing group which is to become fortnightly in the New Year, and a new ladies group which currently meets on a monthly basis, as are the dementia-friendly tea dances.

The hope is that with the support of organisations such as the Lions, Dementia-Friendly Alton may be able to increase meetings.