Bexhill volunteers strip off for charity

THE LONG anticipated Age UK East Sussex calendar is hot off the presses, revealing a brand new look for the charity's staff and volunteers.

Taking inspiration from the Calendar Girls movie, in which a group of WI ladies pose naked for a calendar, starring Helen Mirren, staff and volunteers from Age UK’s Bexhill and Battle shops, bravely stripped off to raise funds for the charity in a similar venture.

Manager of the Bexhill shop, Judy Jeff, who appears on the front cover of the calendar, said she is “very pleased and proud of the finished product”, which took months to plan and design.

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Judy said: “Planning for the calendar started at the beginning of the year, and initially we had to secure the services of a very good photographer and get people to volunteer as models.

“All the photos were taken in the Bexhill shop behind closed doors (and carefully covered windows) in May.

“Everyone who modelled on the day had a lot of fun and really enjoyed themselves.

“The photographer, Brett Turner, was very professional and made sure that everyone was relaxed to ensure all the photos looked as natural as possible.”

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Taking pictures of naked women and men with discreetly placed shop items covering their modesty was a whole new experience for former Royal Navy airman photographer Brett, but he said it’s all in a days work.

“The beauty of being a photographer is you never know where your work will take you.

“This was certainly out of the ordinary but no less enjoyable and the calendar is for a fantastic cause.”

All proceeds from the sale of the calendars, which cost £5 each or two for £9, will go directly to Age UK and will be on sale locally.

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Judy said she hopes every one of the 1,500 calendars that have been printed will sell and “raise a lot of money for this worthwhile cause”.

Judy said the charity provides a lot of essential services for older people in East Sussex and the money raised as a charity is spent locally.

This includes information and advice, befriending, advocacy, day centres and home from hospital services.

Judy said: “These are all essential to older people and in the current and future climate with funding, all money that the charity can generate will help to keep these services going.”

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The calendars can be purchased at various outlets including: Age UK charity shops in St Leonards Road, Bexhill and High Street, Battle, the Bexhill Observer offices in Sackville Road, Sadies café, St Leonards Road, Newsmart, Western Road, Stars hairdressers, Devonshire Road, Battle museum, and the Age Concern offices Robertson Street, Hastings.

Judy thanked everyone who worked on the calendar and sponsors: Bestsellers Bookshop, The Funky Frog, Sadie’s cafe, Azur, Seymours and Grimebusters.