WILLITON pensioner Bert Pearson has been recognised in a national award scheme for his efforts in raising awareness of dementia.

Bert beat off four other finalists to win the best relative/resident contribution in this year's National Dementia Awards.

His success in helping to steer the development of a special horticultural therapy garden at Croft House residential care home in Williton - where his wife Mary is a resident - secured the accolade at a gala event in Brighton run in conjunction with the 7th UK Dementia Congress 2012.

And it was a double celebration for Somerset Care, which owns Croft House, as the not-for-profit company's assistant director for residential services Jane Lynch scooped the lifetime achievement in dementia care award.

Bert helped launch a campaign in October last year to raise more than £25,000 to create a garden in the grounds of the newly built Croft House.

And in addition to fundraising, he has written more than 500 letters to individuals and organisations seeking financial support, lobbied the local press and media and recruited members of the local community to volunteer their time to run a garden club at the home.

However, when he was announced as the winner of his category, he admitted it was a bit of a surprise.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would win," he said.

"I wasn't looking for any praise for what I have done and it wasn't entirely about raising money - it was about raising awareness of dementia and the difficulties involved in caring for sufferers."

Work on the garden, which will include raised flower and vegetable beds, a potting shed, greenhouse and paved area, is almost complete.

A key feature will be a summerhouse, largely funded from money raised in memory of local teenager Bethany Paige Adams, who worked as a carer on one of the home's dementia units and who tragically died in a car crash in January.

Croft House manager Diane Allen said everyone at the home was extremely proud and delighted at Bert's well deserved achievement.

"He has worked tirelessly to raise funds for the garden, which we are aiming to have an official opening in the spring," she said.

"Bert also makes society aware of dementia by giving talks to local groups and talking on local radio."

Meanwhile, Jane Lynch - a former manager of Croft House who lives in West Somerset - has also been praised for her commitment and dedication to dementia care services within Somerset Care.

She joined the company in 1991 and has held a number roles throughout her career.

In 2008 she assumed group responsibility for leading the development of dementia services and has worked closely with the universities of Bradford and Exeter.

This link inspired her to introduce 'dementia care mapping', life stories and reminiscence to Somerset Care and led to national recognition when the company received National Dementia Design and National Dementia Research awards in 2009.

More recently Jane has worked with Reminiscence Learning, a Somerset-based charity which provides specialist training in dementia, to launch Archie's Story, an inter-generational project aimed at making Williton one of the first dementia friendly villages in the UK.

Somerset Care chief executive Alyson Martin said the company was delighted that Jane's contribution to dementia care had been recognised with a national award.

"Her leadership and commitment has been exceptional and has ensured that Somerset Care continues to provide high calibre innovative services for people with dementia."