‘All that remains is for us to buy our tickets to Hollywood’, jokes Miss November, Beverley.

British, Spanish, and German local newspapers, radio and even TV stations have been queuing up to interview eleven British ladies from Calpe who have stripped off for a tasteful ‘naked’ charity calendar.
The calendar, devised as part of a charity fundraising event that echoes real-life story and British hit ‘Calendar Girls’ staring Julie Walters and Helen Mirram, has proved such an overwhelming success in and around the Calpe area, that the ladies have hardly had time to sit down since the calendar’s launch last Saturday.
Miss November, Beverley explains, ‘1000 calendars have been printed and now, three days after the launch, there are only 200 left. Young, old, women and men are buying the calendar, it’s just been overwhelming’, beams Beverley, rejoicing in the success of the calendar and that it has been such a hit.
‘We are especially pleased that the Spanish interest has been so fantastic, we never expected it would be so good. Of course, most Spanish have not even heard of the film, or know very little about it, so for them - 11 British women in Calpe stripping before the camera, has really caused a lot of intrigue and interest’.
Jenny continues, ‘All of us have been living in Spain from between a few months to eight years. We wanted to give something back to a country that we are enjoying so much. It was actually Pauline’s idea’, continues Jenny, ‘and I really didn’t think she was serious until I got a phone call a few weeks later saying that we had a photo shoot booked for the following week!’

‘I didn’t look, really!’ claims Calpe Ladies Calendar Girls photographer Ross.
‘Ross, the photographer from Calpe photos, was great’, says Jenny, ’He was really professional and made us feel at ease. The shoot took place over four days in one of the lady’s houses, and as you can see from the calendar, we all had such fun during the shoot. Like in the film version, each photo reflects our interests. There are photos of us hoovering, playing the guitar and painting, for example. All of us are aged between 30 and 60, and we have built up a bond and comradeship that wasn’t there before. Everyone has worked so hard and everyone has been involved in promoting the calendar’.
 
The Charity
Jenny explains, ‘Many of us have been touched by cancer in some way or another, so we decided to dedicate all the proceeds to a Spanish charity – the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), a national charity that was formed 50 years ago working across Spain to provide help and support, domiciliary care and assistance in all possible ways for cancer patients and their families. We got in contact with Pamela Dawson Tasker who represents the Alfaz del Pi branch of the charity to set the ball in motion.
‘We want to make clear’, continues Jenny, ‘that we do not want to turn the calendar into some kind of commercial business. We have done this purely for the charity, and in the future we are aiming to have more fund-raising events. We do have other plans in the pipeline and there will be a follow-up so watch this space!’
‘The launch of the calendar in Calpe’s Club Náutico was a huge success. Paid for by the sponsors and attended by press, Kevin and Angie from Orba provided the live music, the evening was punctuated by witty-speeches, canapés, champagne, raffles and games and attended by Consuela, President of Cancer Association for Calpe Area, who was representing Calpe local council. On the night, we raised a staggering 1,900 euros for the charity, which was a fantastic start’.
 
And what do the husbands think?
‘There has been a fantastic response from the husbands’, beams Beverley. ‘They are so proud of us and some of them are the main sponsors’.
 Where can you buy the calendar?
From shops, bars and offices in and around Calpe, from Benidorm market, Alfaz del Pi. Look out for the ‘on sale here’ signs around the towns. Further information can be obtained from Pauline on 667 782 550.