7:20am Friday 27th November 2009
By Scott McPherson
A GROUP of friends from Wroughton who dressed up for a saucy Victorian charity calendar were shocked to learn their local supermarket had banned it because of one woman’s complaint.
The 11 friends all posed for the calendar to raise cash for CLIC Sargent, after organiser Gaye Blackmore’s seven-year-old niece was diagnosed with leukaemia a week before Christmas last year.
But they were stunned when the Co-op, in Wroughton High Street, pulled the calendar off its shelves.
The store has since re-stocked the calendar and apologised.
Mrs Blackmore, pictured, said: “I have had no complaints from any of the other places where the calendar is being sold and it appears they were taken down on the strength of one customer who said they were vulgar.
“I certainly do not consider it more offensive than the top-shelf magazines sold in the shop.
“My view is that you have not got to buy it or even look at it if you don’t want to.
“The calendars are actually doing really well and we have raised around £2,000 already.
“They are being sold in pubs, newsagents and even butchers and we have had no complaints.
“I am surprised that anyone would say the calendars are offensive.”
The women dressed up in late 19th century lingerie and lace for the calendar, in a bid to raise £5,000 for the children’s cancer charity.
One of the models, Joy Hanley, said: “We were all horrified, not only because of the loss of funds to the charity, which we are all committed to, but also because so many local people contributed their time and talents absolutely free or at very little charge. That was from the photography, graphic design and printing through to the support from family and friends.
“It was very much a Wroughton effort.
“We were also saddened that any one could see something wrong with the calendar – and that one person’s opinion held so much weight.”
A statement from CLIC Sargent said: “Our local supermarket, the Co-op in Wroughton, banned the sale of this calendar, which they once agreed to sell. This has caused the group of Wroughton ladies and CLIC organisation much upset.”
All of the proceeds of the calendar go to the charity with nothing deducted along the way.
Andy Creswell, the group general manager for food retail at the Midcounties Co-operative, said: “We fully support local charities and are pleased to be selling the Ladies In Lace calendar to help raise money for such a worthwhile cause.
“As a community retailer the Midcounties Co-operative is committed to working alongside valuable projects in the areas we serve in.”
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