Date with the ladies who dare to bare...

Photo: Darren Robinson

FRIENDS from Royton who have posed for the calendar, back, from left, Catherine Clift, Michelle Cameron, Karen Clift. Front, Angela Tate-Wright (with camera) and Jayne Nadin.

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A GROUP of lifelong Royton pals living across the globe are Oldham's very own Calendar Girls after creating a selfie fundraising calendar in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.

The 12 women, who have been friends for 46 years since meeting at Royton Youth Club, came up with their calendar concept following the death in 2014 of Angela Tate-Wright's father Jim Wright, who had Alzheimer's.

The pals, aged between 51 and 65, who live both in the UK and in countries including Holland, Spain and China, came to the realisation that they had each been affected by the devastating disease at some point in their lives.

So thanks to the wonders of modern technology, the women used their smartphones to capture a series of tasteful images and sent them to Angela, an amateur photographer, who edited the shots and also took photos of her UK-based pals.

Mum-of-three Catherine Clift, from Royton but now living in Stafford, said: "We're a really close group of friends and we make sure we meet up regularly, including every Christmas Eve in Royton.

"We were chatting one day when we slowly came to the realisation that Alzheimer's had affected all our lives in different ways.

"A number of us had done fundraising events for charity before but it was Angela and my sister Karen who decided to do a Calendar Girls project.

"For our pictures, we each chose a prop that was pertinent to us, so we've got golf clubs, hockey sticks, flowers and even a pair of wine glasses. But it's all tastefully done."

Angela, who lives in Royton, said: "My dad was a real character with a great sense of humour, something that stayed with him as the illness progressed.

"He was an Oldham man through and through, and loved Latics, but for my dad to lose his memory was the worst thing ever because he had so many fun stories to tell.

"Its a very cruel disease and I'm still grieving now - it never leaves you.

"But doing this calender makes me feel that we are doing something for him by helping to raise money and awareness of the Alzheimer's Society."

A total of 200 copies of the calendar will be printed this month and sold to friends and family, along with local businesses that have sponsored the fundraiser.

But demand for the calender has been overwhelming and the group has raised their fundraising aim from £500 to £5,000

Cathy said: "The response to the calendar has been phenomenal, people have been really supportive and we've had lots of donations.

"Our families are very proud and I know my three sons are chuffed to bits."

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/roytoncalendargirls2017