When Mayland resident Ken Davis was living with dementia, there was always one place that offered him and his family respite: Knightswood Day Care Centre.

Ken, who passed away on 24 May 2020, regularly visited the Asheldham centre, which provides first-class respite care for dementia patients and their loved ones from the Dengie Hundred and beyond.

When the centre's garden received a makeover on Channel 5's Great Gardening Challenge in 2018, pub-lover Ken had one request: a bar.

To make this happen, Ken's family is holding a charity day at The Royal Oak, Fambridge Road on 7 August. They hope to raise £5000 to fund the construction of the bar at Knightswood through the day, which will begin at 3pm.

Kirsty Neave, Ken's granddaughter who lives in Maldon, said: "As a thank-you to Knightswood, our ideal plan is to raise enough money to put a bar in their garden. They can use it as an ice-cream, tea and coffee bar, occasional mocktails – to give the people who use Knightswood a much-needed peaceful, social space."

There will be live music from band Not my Circus on the day, alongside activities including an auction and a raffle. The auction items include a signed Essex Cricket Club shirt, a holiday in France, an evening at Romford Dogs, as well as four ball Golf vouchers and various restaurant vouchers. There will also be a hog roast and fun games. Entrance is free - the more the merrier.

Kirsty said: "Knightswood cared for my granddad amazingly, he thoroughly enjoyed all his days there. He suffered with dementia but that was one of the things he could always tell us he had been doing.

"It also gave us a great deal of respite. We knew that he was safe and he was being looked after - he had a proper dinner while he was there."

For more information, please contact Kirsty via email at [email protected] or mobile at 07805514003.