BBC News Online: UK

WI strips away 'village green' image

Brave members have posed naked for a pin-up calendar to raise money for leukaemia research.

The 12 pictures include women posing in the kitchen, with nothing to maintain their dignity other than judiciously placed cooking utensils and tableware.

The models, all aged 45 to 60, are members of the Rylstone and District Women's Institute near Skipton, North Yorkshire.

October pin-up girl Tricia Stewart, 50, said: "All the regions do their own WI calendars every year.

"They are always the same, pictures of village greens, hills, dales and post boxes. We had this running joke that it would be much more fun to take our clothes off."

The calendar was dedicated to a friend of the WI group, John Baker, who died of cancer last year.

Mr Baker's widow, Angela, told BBC News 24: "John would be amazed and very proud that we had done it. We did talk about it when he was alive and it caused much amusement."

The pictures were taken by Terry Logan, a former professional photographer and the husband of one of the models.

The year begins with Miss January, Beryl Banforth, 65, a retired secretary, who is seen chairing a meeting of members wearing nothing but hats.

December shows the women carol singing wearing just Santa hats.

November's model Rosalyn Fawcett, 49, said: "I think the image of the WI has gone forever now.

"We didn't expect this much fuss. While we were doing it, we were a bit nervous at first.

"But it ended up being good fun thanks to quite a lot of red wine."

The calendars for 2000 are on sale at the women's local pub, The Devonshire Arms in Cracoe.

In this section

Next steps for peace
Blairs' surprise over baby
Bowled over by Lord's
Beef row 'compromise' under fire
Hamilton 'would sell mother'
Industry misses new trains target
Quins fightback shocks Cardiff (From Sport)
Vodafone takeover battle heats up (From Business)
IRA ceasefire challenge rejected
Thousands celebrate Asian culture
Christie could get two-year ban (From Sport)
Colleagues remember Compo (From Entertainment)
Mother pleads for baby's return
Toys withdrawn in E.coli health scare
Nurses role set to expand (From Health)
Israeli PM's plane in accident
More lottery cash for grassroots
Pro-lifers plan shock launch
Double killer gets life
Cold 'cure' comes one step closer (From Health)
Straw on trial over jury reform (From UK Politics)
Tatchell calls for rights probe into Mugabe
Ex-spy stays out in the cold
Blair warns Livingstone (From UK Politics)
Smear equipment `misses cancers' (From Health)
Boyzone star gets in Christmas spirit (From Entertainment)
Fake bubbly warning
Murder jury hears dead girl's diary
Germ warfare fiasco revealed (From UK Politics)
Blair babe triggers tabloid frenzy
Tourists shot by mistake
A new look for News Online