JUST days before the curtain went up on Wisbech Players’ production of Calendar Girls, two members of the group took tea with the original WI Calendar Girls at a glittering event in London.

Director Barbara Mews and backstage helper Ann Shippey met the ladies when they were in the audience for The Calendar Girls: Seasons of Love, a tribute to the Yorkshire WI ladies who caused a sensation by posing nude for a calendar 14 years ago.

Ann said: “It was an amazing experience, we met all six ladies known as The Baker’s Half Dozen, they were so friendly and were pleased to hear we were producing the play version of their story.

Barbara added: “We were thrilled that all six ladies signed a good luck card for our cast and crew, which has added a bit of extra sparkle to an already special show.”

The original Calendar Girls have raised more than �3million for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research; and also at the tea was ex-political advisor Alistair Campbell who is chairman of fund raising for the charity.

Wisbech Players’ performance of Calendar Girls opens tonight (Friday October 12) at the Angles Theatre in Wisbech. An extra performance has been added, on Monday October 15, to the original dates of October 12 and 13, and October 16 -20. Details of show times and tickets are available from the Angles Box Office on 01954 474447.

The Wisbech cast of the play have also posed for their own fund raising calendar which will be available from Etcetera in York Row, Wisbech and the Angles Theatre for �8, with proceeds going to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research,