Staff strip for pin-up poses
Male workers have stripped for a 2009 calendar in support of breast cancer research.
Staff at A1 Bridge Flue Systems, Maun Way, Boughton, posed for the black and white calendar with carefully-placed pink objects, including tools and laptops, protecting their dignity.
The calendar is available for a minimum donation of £5. All proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK, the country’s largest funder of breast cancer research.
Each month is dedicated to a different department at the company, which makes stainless steel chimneys for schools and restaurants.
Mr David Bracegirdle (29) of Tuxford Road, Boughton, works in the engineering department and posed for January.
“Everyone was a bit sceptical at first, but we knew it was all for a good cause,” he said.
“In the end it was not as bad as we first thought and the pictures actually look quite tasteful.”
Human resources director Miss Tracy-Jane Moir (36) helped to organise the calendar.
She said: “Most people will know someone who has been affected by cancer and as a company we are big supporters of research into breast cancer.
“Nearly half of the 500 calendars have gone. We have already raised more than £2,000.”
Mrs Frances Bilbie, the wife of company director Mr Tony Bilbie was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer last year.
Their three sons, Mr Richard Bilbie (42) of Newark Road, Ollerton, Mr David Bilbie (27) of Main Street, Kirton, and Mr Lee Bilbie (30) also of Main Street, work at the factory and are in the calendar.
Mr Richard Bilbie works in the contracts department and was the model for October.
“Everyone who did it had reservations and at first I thought Tracy was joking when she suggested it,” he said.
“When the bloke came in to take the photos we thought he wanted photos of us just with our tops off. We could not have been more wrong.”
The company held a number of events throughout last year to raise money for research into breast cancer.
Female staff competed in the Race For Life at Newark in July and raised more than £4,000.
A pink evening, when guests wore pink clothes, ate pink food and drank pink champagne, raised almost £500.
In October male and female staff held a bake-off, which involved cooking and selling pink food. The event raised more than £200.
Mrs Angela Green (40) of the accounts department, did a parachute jump in September that raised £400.
The calendars are available at: SAS Hardware, Unit 226, Boughton Industrial Estate; the Ollerton House pub, Wellow Road; the Durham Ox, Newark Road, Wellow; Key Building Supplies Ltd, Road C, Boughton Industrial Estate; Thaymar Tea Rooms, Haughton Park Farm, Bothamsall.
