My friend Margaret (Peggy) Fray, who has died aged 90, was a champion for people with learning disabilities and their family carers. She looked after her sister, Kathleen, who was born with Down's syndrome, for 40 years, an experience that inspired her highly regarded book, Caring for Kathleen A Sister's Story About Down's Syndrome and Dementia (2000). She also made great contributions to organisations including the Down's Syndrome Association and the Ormerod Home Trust.
Peggy was born in Cumbria to Gertrude (nee Ashton) and John Richards. Kathleen was born when Peggy was four, and by all accounts the sisters had an immediately close bond, which endured until Kathleen's death in 1996. She developed dementia in her later years and Peggy struggled to find appropriate advice and support. It was this experience that led her to write her book, which is not only a moving account of Kathleen's life, but also reflects the changing shape of services during her lifetime. Caring for Kathleen also highlighted for her the vast gap in provision for people with a learning disability who develop dementia.
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