Original Calendar Girl Tricia Stewart Champions New Ladies First Charity Calendar
The iconic Tricia Stewart, who famously sparked the original Alternative WI Calendar phenomenon, has pledged her enthusiastic support for the latest charitable venture: the Ladies First Charity Calendar. This new initiative, organized by the Balsall Common-based Ladies First Professional Development Network, features more than 30 women aged between 19 and 80 striking cheeky, sophisticated poses to raise funds for a host of nominated local and national charities.
A Legacy of Inspiration and Fundraising Success
Tricia Stewart, now 77, was instrumental in creating the groundbreaking Rylestone & District WI naked calendar in 1999, which sold over 300,000 copies and raised an astonishing £6.5 million for Blood Cancer UK (formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research). What began as a modest effort to raise £5,000 in memory of a friend's husband has evolved into a global legacy, inspiring countless charitable endeavors.
Reflecting on her experience, Tricia shared: "We are so proud of our legacy and so proud this carries on. I remember my name and number went out with the press releases and I was on three phones fielding calls for weeks! It was like running another business. I’m delighted to be attending the launch and seeing the calendar which is about so much more than just taking your clothes off."
Calendar Girls: From Local Idea to Global Phenomenon
The original calendar's impact extended far beyond its initial three-week expectation, leading to:
- The 2003 blockbuster film 'Calendar Girls', starring Dame Helen Mirren as Tricia's character.
- The publication of 'The Calendar Girl’s Story' book, reprinted and translated into multiple languages including Japanese.
- Additional calendar editions in 2004, 2005, 2007, a recipe calendar in 2008, and a 10-year anniversary edition in 2010.
- A stage musical 'The Girls' by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, performed worldwide with post-show collections adding thousands to charity funds.
Ladies First Calendar: Celebrating Women of All Ages
Tracey McAtamney, who has led the West Midlands-based Ladies First network for a decade, expressed her excitement about Tricia's endorsement: "I’m absolutely thrilled that the original Calendar Girl herself has endorsed our Ladies First Charity Calendar. Our aim is to raise as much money as possible for over 30 charities close to our hearts, while also growing in confidence and putting ourselves out of our comfort zones."
The calendar project embodies the network's core principles: To Inspire, To Inform, and To Introduce. Participants include notable figures such as former TV news anchor Suzanne Virdee, retired Coventry MP Colleen Fletcher OBE, and Pat Hemmings, wife of former Drifters star Roy. The youngest contributors are 19-year-old twins Stacey and Tracey William.
Charities Set to Benefit and Event Details
The calendar will support over 30 organizations, including:
- Surviving Bereavement Foundation
- Coventry, Warwickshire & Worcestershire Mind
- Prostate Cancer UK
- Teenage Cancer Trust
- Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull
- Birmingham Hospice
- Women’s Aid
- RSPCA Coventry & District Branch
Tricia Stewart will be the guest of honor at the red-carpet launch event on October 15 at The Birmingham Rep Theatre. Headline sponsors include Mallory Court Hotel & Spa, where the calendar is being photographed, and Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Now residing in the Yorkshire Dales, Tricia continues to share her Calendar Girls experience through speaking engagements and runs Body Control Pilates classes, maintaining her commitment to inspiring others through charitable action.
