Dementia battler receives honour (From Warrington Guardian)

Appleton man given honour

8:10am Sunday 22nd August 2010 in News

AN Appleton grandfather who dedicated his life to raising awareness of dementia since being diagnosed himself has received an honorary masters degree.

Peter Ashley, aged 74, was diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies 10 years ago, which accounts for about four per cent of all cases and shares characteristics with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

He will receive his masters from the University of Worcester in November.

Last year the university established the Association for Dementia Studies (ADS) to improve the care and support of people living with the condition.

Peter, of Dorney Close, said: “Once I got over the shock of being diagnosed I became determined to push myself and work hard in spite of my problems.

“It is a privilege to be closely associated with the University of Worcester. ADS is recognising the special needs of some 700,000 to 800,000 people having dementia in 2010, not to mention those of their carers. This initiative, so very near my heart, can only be applauded.”

In 2001 Peter, a governor at 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, became the first person with dementia to be appointed a trustee of the UK Alzheimer’s Society, of which he has since retired and is now a society ambassador.

He spends much of his time making presentations to meetings throughout the UK and internationally and has given speeches at Alzheimer’s Disease International, and at Alzheimer’s Europe conferences.

Peter, who is married to Ann and has three daughters and two granddaughters, is also a member the Lewy Body Society, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, and the Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease Network.

He has had many articles published, one of the latest being a chapter in the 2009 Oxford Textbook of Old Age Psychiatry.

For the past 10 years of his working life Peter was technical director of a computer company in Worcester.