Securing tickets to an exclusive Cotswolds charity polo event will raise vital funds to help people affected by dementia who have been hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

As the country emerges from months of restrictions, Alzheimer's Society is giving people a chance to finally ditch their loungewear and get their glad rags on at their "Afternoon at Beaufort" polo day on Friday, 16 July, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

The charity has once again teamed up with England Polo greats, brothers Luke and Mark Tomlinson, for an exclusive afternoon of top-class polo and fine dining at one of the oldest country polo clubs in the UK.

"We are delighted to be joining forces with Alzheimer's Society once again to hold this fantastic event," said Luke Tomlinson, who has played polo all over the world and formerly captained the England team for over a decade.

"Our family has direct experience of dementia after my mother Claire was diagnosed with a form called Pick's disease in 2012.

"The way it has affected the family has been very profound as Mum was an incredible person with so much energy and organisational drive. We were all bowled over when she started to get ill and was diagnosed. It means Alzheimer's Society is a charity that is very close to our hearts and provides vital support to people with dementia and their families."

"It is startling that one in four people who lost their lives to Covid in the UK had dementia. The already high demand for Alzheimer's Society's services skyrocketed during the pandemic yet, like many charities, their fundraising capacity was seriously limited during that time.

"That's why we are so proud to be holding this event in aid of the charity and its important work."

Organisers of "An Afternoon at Beaufort" hope to raise £70,000 for Alzheimer's Society which provides information and support, funds research, campaigns to improve care and creates lasting change for people affected by dementia.

There are estimated to be around 10,000 people over 65 living with dementia in Gloucestershire alone, with numbers expected to reach over 14,000 by 2030.

Guests will be welcomed to Beaufort Polo Club - which has been owned by the Tomlinson family for many years - with a sparkling drinks reception, polo demonstration and a delicious lunch before enjoying an action-packed game of polo in an idyllic setting.

When the sporting drama has drawn to a close, the day will finish with a luxurious afternoon tea.

"Our inaugural Alzheimer's Society Beaufort Polo Club Day in 2019 was a fantastic success, raising over £45,000, and we are thrilled that it will finally return in 2021, after it was cancelled last year because of the pandemic," added Luke.

"Guests can look forward to an afternoon of elite polo and exclusive dining at a great location in the Cotswolds, with the knowledge that they are helping to raise vital funds for people living with dementia."

The Afternoon at Beaufort event will be the second face-to-face special event that Alzheimer's Society has hosted since the pandemic hit the UK.

Emily Eveleigh, special events manager at Alzheimer's Society, said: "After a year in lounge wear, "An Afternoon at Beaufort" will finally give people the opportunity to really dress to impress.

"We are incredibly excited to be hosting this wonderful event once again and bring people together after so many months apart.

"It will be an afternoon full of fun and enjoyment, but it is being held for a very serious reason as people affected by dementia need us now more than ever.

"The coronavirus pandemic has hit Alzheimer's Society hard financially. The money raised by this event will help us to reach and support more people affected by dementia.

"Since lockdown began, our vital support services, including our Dementia Connect support line, have been used more than five million times and are proving to be a lifeline for thousands.

"We are in awe of the resilience of supporters like the Tomlinson's whose dedication to raising vital funds for Alzheimer's Society ensures that we are able to support those who need it most."

The event will be held at Beaufort Polo Club, Downfarm House, Westonbirt, Tetbury on Friday 16 July 2021 from 11.45am - 5.30pm.

Alzheimer's Society are actively monitoring the government guidelines surrounding COVID-19, and will deliver an event that is safe but still has all the components you enjoy at "An Afternoon at Beaufort".

To purchase individual tickets at £150, or a table seating up to ten guests at £1,500, please email Emily Eveleigh at Emily.Eveleigh@alzheimers.org.uk