CHEEKY CALENDAR AIDS CANCER CARE
CHEEKY CALENDAR AIDS CANCER CARE
RYLSTONE WI ladies have a lot to answer for. Just mention the word calendar and all and sundry discard their clothing without so much as a blush or goose pimple – let alone a worry that they might be less than attractive unclothed. Even The Archers are at it.
No-one would claim that men featured on the Lauders Likely Lads! calendar are all body-beautifuls, but it is selling like hot (beef) cakes.
More likely to raise a chuckle than the pulse rate, the charm of this calendar is in its humour, both in the poses and the witty ditties that accompany each months pin-up.
And whats more, it has already raised £8000 towards providing cancer care facilities at two doctors practices in Lauder, Berwickshire.
"All 14 of the people involved in the calendar have had their lives touched by cancer in some way, having lost a close family member or friend to this disease," says Heather Runciman, who organised the project.
Heather, of Huntington Farm, Lauder, was inspired by the WI calendar and she used the carrot and stick method to get models to pose for the sepia toned shots of men at work – 30s style.
"I first approached Jack Telford with the idea. He works on the family farm and I joking said that if he really wanted his new John Deere tractor that was soon to arrive, he would have to pose semi-naked. Knowing that Jack feels passionately about his green tractors, I was sure he would agree," says Heather.
Now Jack will be forever Mr September, as he lies languid and topless, save his braces, atop a vintage tractor above the title Love Machine and a poem to his prowess at ploughing a magic furrow.
* Next on list
Sheep shearer John Ainslie was next on her list. "He lambs and dips for us and couldnt quite believe what I was asking," says Heather. "However, he appreciates three square meals a day at lambing time too much to say no." Clippers at the ready, John was soon baring his chest as Mr Smoothie above the dates for June.
Jock Tweedgall – "the most extrovert blacksmith I have ever come across" – was only too pleased to take part. His cheeky pose for August has even got the horse looking on in wonderment.
Sheila Scotts took the photographs at Thirlstane Castle, Lauder, home of the Hon Gerald Maitland-Carew, who features in February, but gets his "man" to bare the flesh, of course.
It is tastefully done. "Coming from a small community we didnt want to do anything that would cause embarrassment in years to come," says Heather.
She neednt worry. The calendar is a delight and gives every buyer the chance of a good giggle for every month of 2001.
Tessa Gates
• For a copy of Lauders Likely Lads! send a cheque for £6.75 payable to Calendar 2001, to Mrs * Runciman, Huntington Farm, Lauder, Berwickshire TO2 6QU.
Forever September: It was a case of strip or no new tractor for
Jack Telford – the first man approached to pose for the calendar.