East Markham Mums Create Calendar to Raise Funds for Church Roof

The community has come together after thieves stripped four tonnes of lead off the roof of East Markham's John the Baptist Church at the beginning of October. The damage caused is thought to cost over £50,000 to repair, so some mums from the area have got together to create a calendar to raise funds..

The calendar, which will be on sale at the church fair on the 24th November, as well as local businesses in the area, features the eleven mums in various settings around the village.

Helen Coultate, East Markham, who organised the shoots and printing of the calendar, said the idea started as a lighthearted Facebook comment. But then "snowballed" as other mums agreed to take part, "The reaction of everyone has been generally positive and encouraging."

"The church is the centre of the community, a lot of us got married there, baptised children there, I'd like to see my daughter get married there so I probably wouldn't have thought of doing it for another cause."

The photos were taken over two weeks by local photographer Nicola Davison-Reed of NDR Photography; shoots took place in an orchard, phone box and even outside the church as well as other village locations.

When Helen got in touch with Nicola she liked the idea, "It was mums getting together, having a bit of fun and just being a little bit cheeky. I just thought what a good idea."

The calendars are available on to pre-order online from the "East  Markham Mums Naked Truth Charity Calendar" page on Facebook, and the group hopes to raise £1,000 towards the repair of the church roof.

Tom Fremantle, part of the Parochial Council and project manager for the repair of the roof said that there were reservations regarding the  calendar, "I did say perhaps suggestive rather than too much flesh, as  there might be some people offended who otherwise might buy it."

 "Otherwise, I was assured by the ladies that actually they weren't nearly daring enough, so I'm sure it will be absolutely fine."

 He added that the support from the community has been fantastic, with  locals coming forward to help with the repairs minutes after the news of  the theft was shared on the village Facebook page.