CARERS who used to look after loved ones who suffered from dementia enjoyed a tour of Colchester.

The Moving On group, which meets once a fortnight, helps people who spent many years caring for husbands, wives or other relatives to make new friends. This week they took a tour of Colchester on an open-top bus.

The oldest member, Tom Blackmore, was married to wife Maisie for 68 years.

The 97-year-old, from Balkerne Gardens, Colchester, cared for her for ten years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, until she died eight years ago.

He said: “I enjoy the comradeship. We have all lost partners and we join together as a new group of partners.

“The group is very outgoing and it’s quite uplifting.”

Jane Wright, who runs the group, said the 25 members did a range of activities, such as visits to the seaside.

Many of the members will be taking part in the Memory Walk, which takes place in Castle Park on Saturday, September 19, at 11am.

Visit memorywalk.org.uk for more information.