A Lake District cinema owner has been trawling charity shops for red and purple attire in preparation for a celebration of growing old (dis)gracefully.
Carol Rennie, who runs the Alhambra in Keswick, is one of the people behind a series of events in the town, which will take place next month- in its self-styled Bohemian quarter.
Chinty’s cafe will host a Red Hatter’s coffee morning on June 17.
Those for whom the Jenny Joseph poem When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple – chimes a welcome bell are encouraged to come along in their own riotous clothing, or ready to borrow something purple when they arrive.
There are over 100 chapters of the British Red Hatter Society, who maintain that nothing makes people smile like a group of ladies in purple and red hats out enjoying themselves.
“Weather permitting, perhaps a little jaunt to the lake might be in order?” suggests Carol.
Photographer Tim Fisher, of the next door Northern Lights Gallery, has offered to take portraits and a group shot of those celebrating ageing (dis)gracefully on the day.
He said: “I’ve been banging on about St John’s Street being Keswick’s Bohemian quarter for years. I have been taking occasional portraits of Mary-Gay for some time, but hadn’t imagined a whole group of ladies ‘making up for the sobriety of their youth!’ It certainly screams Bohemian, so I welcome the Red Hatters with open arms!
“St John’s Street represents hundreds of talented artists through its many galleries, gift shops, Keswick antiques and collectables. Add in a tattoo and beauty parlour, trendy bistro, hotel, ethical cafe and recycling, two restaurants, and to cap it off an amazing Edwardian cinema. What a fabulous street we are!”
The full programme of events celebrating Growing Old (Dis)Gracefully in June can be found under Ageing on the Alhambra Cinema’s what’s on drop down menu: printed flyers will be available next month.
