A YOUNG girl from Caversham whose father has young onset dementia has discovered cooking is a way to make fond memories with her family and has since released her very own book.

The Covid-19 lockdown in summer 2020 was a difficult time for everyone, but for Bessie (10) and her sister Milly (12) it was especially tough having to cope with home-schooling while also helping their mother, Hannah, care for their father Neil, who has young onset dementia.

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When things became fraught, Neil’s specialist dementia nurse suggested daughter Bessie cook with Neil to keep occupied and help them get along.

These baking activities soon blossomed into a creative family project and have turned into a new book, Bessie Bakes: Fond memories & fun recipes to support families affected by dementia by Hannah and Bessie Riches, to help raise money for Dementia UK.

Hannah said: "When Neil was finding things tough with his routine all out of whack, Lizzie our Admiral Nurse (trained by Dementia UK), suggested that Bess and Neil should bake together.

"It was a fabulous idea, and they had some lovely mornings making cookies."

This is what sparked the idea for Bessie Bakes.

Bessie asked family and friends for their favourite recipes and the memories they hold and had an overwhelming response.

She spent the summer trying out dozens of cakes, biscuits and savoury dishes while her mum Hannah wrote up the recipes.

What started out as a summer holiday project for Bessie morphed into a full-scale fundraising effort for Dementia UK who support families like Bessie’s.

Bessie Bakes: Fond memories & fun recipes to support families affected by dementia is a collection of easy-to-make, well-loved cakes, biscuits, savoury dishes, sweet treats and memories.

From scrumptious delights such as Raspberry Brownies and Malteser Tray Bake to well-known classics including Speedy Spice Cake and Shrewsbury Biscuits, Bessie Bakes has something for everyone to start creating their own new family memories.

Hannah and Neil firmly believe that honesty about a young onset dementia diagnosis and willingness to engage with it is critical.

Hannah revealed: "Bringing up children when one parent has a diagnosis of dementia is not easy, and Milly and Bessie could easily feel like passive witnesses to their father’s illness.

"Instead we have encouraged them to learn and talk about dementia and, in doing so, have inspired them to raise money and help others.

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"Publishing this collection of recipes as a book to raise funds seemed like a natural progression from the memory walks, table-top sales and coffee mornings the girls have already done."

Bessie Bakes: Fond memories & fun recipes to support families affected by dementia is published by Kingshill Books on November 30 and due to launch at the Caversham Artisan & Farmer’s Market on Sunday, December 6.

This is unless lockdown restrictions extend beyond December 2, in which case the launch will be postponed.

To pre-order a copy of the book at the price of £12.50 (incl. £2.50 P&P), visit the website here and use the PayPal link to place your order.

All profits from the sale of the book go to Dementia UK.