Miss July and our cover girl, make the tea!

Life is forever changing! My whole life altered when I was elected President of the Downe Womens. Institute from 1995-2005. Downe is a traditional English village in the county of Kent; the resident’s number approximately one thousand souls distributed over three hundred and twenty houses. Famous for Charles Darwin, who lived and worked here for forty years whilst writing his controversial treatise “Origin of the species”. I always thought of myself as a quiet retiring village woman, but over these past few years, nothing could be further from the truth. The opportunities of producing three charity calendars, becoming widely known as Miss July, appearing on national television, speaking on Radio Kent, spending a year as a journalist for a local paper and lecturing to groups on many subjects are but a few of the avenues that opened before me.

The seed of an idea transformed itself into entering the media of the incredibly fascinating world of BODY PAINTING. I had the pleasure of meeting Liz from Follies Face & Body Art – www.follies.co.uk - over a year ago and put the idea of producing the 2009 Downe Dames calendar to her. Liz was immediately intrigued and the wheels were set in motion. I can honestly say that we have been on a roller coaster ever since. Through her professionalism and contacts, one of who was twice World Body Painting Champion no less; we have been able to produce an excellent calendar for 2009 exploiting the fabulous talents and exotic styles of the body-painting world.

Downe Dames produced their first calendar in 2005 and presented a cheque for £9,000-00 to Harris HospisCare. Our second calendar produced for Demelza Children’s Hospice in 2007 raised over £23,000-00. Our 2009 calendar of Downe Dames has involved many hours of painstaking work by a team of amazing body painters. Once again the funds will be donated to Demelza Children’s Hospice in Eltham, London. This charity is close to my heart as I have thirteen healthy grandchildren and give up my time willingly to help those children that are all life limited. Demelza’s ethos is “Adding life to days when days cannot be added to life”

Through the years of calendar selling I have learnt a lot about human nature and realize that there are some very generous people out there. I have experienced the most incredible feeling of satisfaction when my charity moneybox gets full. The collecting of money for our calendars has been totally absorbing and drives a passionate response to make ever more.

The complete calendar of body painting and photography was completed in three days of feverish activity. The experience and camaraderie was scintillating and unforgettable. The talents displayed by the painters had to be seen to be believed and we felt privileged to watch the blank canvas of a body change into something beautiful and exotic.

The calendars were printed by Sharp Print based in Westerham, Kent and the Director told me, “I believe that raising money for a children’s hospice is a worthwhile cause and I wanted to be involved”. The time and effort that Sharp Print has given to this project has exceeded all expectation.

Mr Tim Blair, the Project Manager of the new hospice in Eltham had this to say about the Dames.
“The Downe Dames are a lovely group of ladies from the village of Downe in Kent. They have just launched their 2009 calendar, which is by far their most ambitious charity project to date.

The Downe Dames previously supported Demelza Hospice Care for Children with their 2007 calendar and raised an astonishing amount of money. The sum of £23,000-00 was used to fund the equipping of a children’s bedroom in Demelza’s brand new hospice at Wensley Close, London SE9 that is scheduled to open in early 2009.

The new 2009 calendar, which sells at £7.99, is available once again being sold with all profits going to the amazing work of Demelza. Barbara Stevens, Miss July, of the Downe Dames says “I am hoping to double the amount raised by the previous calendar and that the proceeds of sale will fund the salaries of two paediatric nurses whose dedication to the children at Demelza is limitless” They definitely believe in ‘adding life to days when days cannot be added to life’

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