I am going to walk from Fred’s beloved home town of Whaley Bridge to where he now resides at Half Acre Care Home Ainsworth Rd Radcliffe which is 25 miles, as a tribute to this cherished character of our community., I have had to postpone this walk due to illness but hope to update all the kind sponsors on when I will be doing the walk when I’ve fully recovered.

Most people who know me know Fred, I first met him as a customer in my club at the time ,17 years ago, a pleasant friendly chap who would sit at the bar and chat to anyone who would share the time from the teenagers to the pensioners. Sadly his partner of 25 years died almost 10 years ago and he began to struggle alone with no family around him, My daughter Andrea & I felt we had to help him as it was obvious he couldn’t deal with the day to day of maintaining his flat and feeding himself this was 9 years ago, over the years as many people from the snooker club know we have become great friends, Fred was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s over 6 years ago but it had become obvious for some time as his condition worsened. We have enjoyed so many good times including holidays to Weymouth to see his sister and days out in Whaley bridge which included him being reunited with his close family. I feel we have been on a long journey of many emotions and this cruel disease has now sadly stripped poor Fred of everything, it has been heartbreaking to watch him deteriorate and covid didn’t help, I must thank Half Acre care home in Radcliffe who have cared for him over the last 3 years and it’ is  a place he now calls home, but as he is now in the final stages of this illness he struggles to know who I or even he is, As sadly there is little I can personally do for Fred now I thought this was fitting tribute in his battle with Alzheimer’s and show my appreciation for the love, friendship and memories  he gave to me, my family and his many friends over the years. If you can make any contribution to help eradicate this horrible illness it would be so much appreciated by both of us, Thank you, Barrie