The Red Hat Society started in April 1998 as a celebration of friendship & aging amongst women and an acknowledgment of the fact that getting older is to be celebrated rather than dreaded. We are made to feel less valuable as we age and wearing Red & Purple shows that we still have energy, frivolity and fun in our lives. We aim to lift the spirit of every lady who joins our chaapter and encourage them to be the best they can be, supportive groups like ours reduce the feeling of isolation that many older people feel
Today, hatters are commonly seen embracing life to the fullest wearing the now famous symbol - a Red Hat and Purple outfit.
Although primarily set up as a social group for ladies of a certain age, thats to say over 50, we do welcome younger ladies who wear pink hats and lilac outfits until the big birthday when they become true Red Hatters
The Boudicca Babes Of Colchester is one of the first registered chapters of the Red Hat Society in Essex. Established in 2005 our purpose in life is to have fun and grow old disgracefully, 'spreading the Red' and making friends along the way.
The poem 'Warning' by Jenny Joseph is our inspiration so we always go out and about in our Red Hats and purple outfits be they posh frocks or casual togs, whatever is suitable for the occasion.
We enjoy meeting other Red Hatters locally, nationally and Internationally. You will find that if you visit other places where there is chapter you will be made very welcome, especially in some European counrties, Australia and America, where there are hundreds of chapters. In fact about 24,000 worldwiide and growing all the time. Just let them know you are coming and they will roll out the red carpet.