Our speaker in February was Tricia Stewart who entertained us with her story of the alternative Women's Institute calendar. You may have seen the film, Calendar Girls, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, which was based on the making of the calendar.
Tricia joined the Rylstone and District WI in 1985 and became friends with Angela Baker whose husband was later diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sadly he died at the age of 54, so the women decided to launch a calendar to raise funds for research into blood-related cancers, in his memory.
She had us in fits of laughter when she described how they all reacted when they realised they would actually have to bare all and take off their clothes to be photographed! She also spoke of the many famous film stars and important people they have subsequently met. Little did they know that the story would become so well known, that they would be portrayed on both stage and screen. To date, they have raised £3.5 million for charity.
Her amusing, yet poignant talk was inspirational and enjoyed by all.
