WEST Somerset’s Forties weekend presented a perfect opportunity to present a ‘Dementia Friendly’ certificate to staff at Watchet Station.

Dementia friends champion and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Margaret Tatham said a major reason why the station staff had achieved the award was the way they had helped her late friend Archie Selway.

Archie, who lived with dementia for many years, was able to happily continue as a volunteer with the West Somerset Railway because of their help.

Ms Tatham made the presentation on behalf of Watchet and the Quantocks Dementia Action Alliance, which also supports weekly ‘Forget-me-not Cafes’.

She said the Forget-me-Not group had also enjoyed some happy journeys on the heritage railway line, while many other friends living with dementia had travelled to and from Watchet Station with ‘great support from the staff’.

The alliance, which is focussed on Watchet and also takes in villages across the Quantock and Brendon Hills, has as its patron the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.

‘Forget-me-not Cafes’ take place in Watchet and Stogursey on Wednesday mornings alternately, and the alliance supports other services such as the Phoenix Centre, in Watchet, which leads on care for older people in the town and provides daily lunches with the help of teams of volunteers.

A number of village and town churches across the district are also members of the alliance, which aims to encourage organisations and businesses to have at least one person trained in how to be dementia friendly.

More information about activities and advice for people living with dementia and ways to be more dementia friendly can be found on the alliance’s website www.WatchetDementia.org.uk or by emailing [email protected] or contacting Margaret Tatham on 07973638030, or for Minehead contacting Val or Emily on [email protected].