Women council leaders strip to aid farmers
A group of women civic leaders have become calendar girls and stripped off to raise money for farmers hit by foot-and-mouth disease - but all in the best possible taste.
Three lady mayors and a chairwoman from four Dorset towns decided to disrobe for a calendar after hearing an appeal on a local radio station to raise funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
But Shaftesbury mayor Janet Lowe said they made sure they did nothing to disgrace their positions in what she described as the most unusual thing she had undertaken in her two years in office.
Mother-of-three Mrs Lowe was joined by Rosemary Holmes, mayor of Blandford, Janet Robson, mayor of Gillingham, and Sturminster Newton Town Council chairwoman Patricia Johnson, with each having final approval on the tasteful shots, which leave almost everything to the imagination.
Mrs Lowe, who is in her early 40s, said: ‘‘We were conscious of making it a little bit suggestive but it is more what you think than what you see.’’
She contacted the others after hearing the appeal on local radio station Vale FM, as she thought their backing could help boost sales.
‘‘We are right in the heart of the Blackmore Vale and if we were to lose farming it would be devastating to the whole area,’’ she said.
‘‘It is one of the most unusual things I have done but then foot-and-mouth is an unusual disease in these days and is devastating.’’
Mrs Robson, a 51-year-old grandmother, said the group all enjoyed the shoot, which was staged at a country hotel.
‘‘We had a glass of wine beforehand which seemed to help,’’ she said.
‘‘We had such a laugh doing it, but it was something we all felt we could do to help.’’
They all had the backing of their families, she added.
The 18-month calendar is expected to go on sale later this month.
