Our first gathering for 2024 was on 9th January
at the Small Talk Cafe
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at the Small Talk Cafe
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Christmas lunch 2023 at the Rose & Crown was a great succes enjoyed by everyone. The staff and service were excellent
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Chris Rickarks and her chapter joined us for a tour of Headgate Theatre and Lunch in Playhouse Pub on 30th November - a fun joint ouring.
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It was Tara's first 'Days Gone By' weekend and she is certainly going to book again.
The fun and friendship shared with the Babes who joned her and the other Red Hat sisters she met was just amazing, she said.
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The fun and friendship shared with the Babes who joned her and the other Red Hat sisters she met was just amazing, she said.
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19th July 2023 - We were joined by some of the Purple Pearls for a tour of Sudbury, led by Caroline, a Blue Badge guide with lots of knowledge and fun facts to share with us.
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29th June 2023 - We had a terrific chance to share Colchester's Roman Circus with our Founder, Maggie Shannon.
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Another fun day out, 11th July 2023 - this time learning about fudge making at Yum Yum, Woolpit, Suffolk
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A fantastic weekend June 2023 - hosted by Wanda Bentley seeing Belfast and enjoying a photoshoot with others from around the country and Europe.
Fun & Friendship reign supreme in the Red Hat community.
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Our 18th Birthday celebrations at Wivenhoe House Hotel
Our 18th Birthday celebrations at Wivenhoe House Hotel
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We had an interesting visit to the Town Hall on 21st March 2023, and discovered the way the name of Colchester has evolved over the centuries too.
We had an interesting visit to the Town Hall on 21st March 2023, and discovered the way the name of Colchester has evolved over the centuries too.
A fun afternoon at the Mercury Theatre seeing the panto
'Beauty & the Beast'
'Beauty & the Beast'
Our Christmas gathering 2022 was at Castle Inn, Colchester.
Great company and the service was excellent.
Another fun get together,
enjoying Pauline's
hospitality
and a ghostly quiz
for Halloween
October 2022
The Organ recital was a great success with entertaining music and chat from Ian Ray.
We then met up with Maureen for a drink to share in the Geroge Hotel.
Another lovely day out to enjoy the Henry VIII anniversary celebrations on 21st August, at Layer Marney Towers.
We even met a lady of high status wearing our colours.
Sandy was invited to talk to a local bereavement group about the history, and existing joy to be had through Red Hatting. It was a lively talk/discussion with a lot of interest shown by the audience.
A sunny day enjoyed at Hyde Hall Flower Show with our newest member Jayne. Suzie, Sue, Jayne & Queen Sandy had a lot of attention with us all showing our colours and sharing the message of Red Hatting
Our first visit today 28th July, to the
Blue Garden Cafe,
they treated us like Royalty and we will certainly go back again soon.
Fun with other chapters enjoying Ladies Day in Oulton Broad on 16th June
We had a lovely time on 27th April enjoying the
Olde Time Music Hall' show at the
Mercury Theatre
Margery & Pauline joined Sandy on a trip to London to see Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution. We met up with Lorna and one of her chapterettes from the London RH Chapter and had a lovely time together.
Christmas 2021 was celebrated by many of us at the Stanway Garden Centre, London Road, Stanway, Colchester.
Tour of Stansted Airport 2018
August 2018 London Theatre Visit - 'Dreamgirls
October 2017 - Ten Babes accompanied by our guide Gill Oakley (far right) enjoyed a behind the scenes tour of the Mercury Theatre Colchester, followed by a cream tea. Many thanks to Gill and her team for an interesting and enjoyable afternoon.
KINKY BOOTS
On the 10th May 2017 we joined 100 other Chapter Ladies from various Chapters for a fantastic performance of Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre. After the show we all enjoyed a scrumptious tea at the Strand Palace Hotel, another wonderful day out.
- March 2017 - Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
Sutton Hoo - June 2015
On the 30th June (a very hot day) 7 Babes visited Sutton Hoo. We were able to explore Mrs Pretty's house, which has been re-furnished in the style of the 1930's. Two excellent guides told us all about Mrs Pretty life and how she commissioned Basil Brown to excavate the grounds in the fields beyond the house. We then went on a tour of the museum and the burial grounds . The highlight was when a American Apache helicopter flew averhead on reconnaissance. The pilot obviously wanted a closer look at some gorgeous Red Hat ladies and turned his helicopter, flying lower over us to get a better look!
The William Morris Gallery - May 2015
On the 21st May we visited the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, after our visit we walked across the beautiful Lloyd Park to Hilary's new home where we enjoyed tea and a delicious coffee cake Hilary had made.
Ladies-In-Waiting!
On our way to London we met a lovely American photographer who kindly took this photo for us and sent it for everyone to enjoy. We were meeting up with other Red Hatters (a total of 78) to see 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrel' at the Savoy Theatre followed by afternoon tea at the Strand Palace Hotel.
2014
show wasow
ow The day
2014
show wasow
ow The day
7th Anniversary Celebration - April 2013
We celebrated our 7th Anniversary in style with a 4 course Afternoon Tea served on vintage china in a refurbished railway carriage on Platform 2 at Chappel and Wakes Colne Station.
The menu consisted of finger sandwiches, cocktail sausage rolls, stuffed devilled eggs, Frozen Grand Marnier souffle, cakes/cream scones and tea and coffee flowed throughout the afternoon. At the end of the afternoon we were presented with a red hat cake, which was unexpected and a lovely surprise, a very happy and enjoyable occasion.
The menu consisted of finger sandwiches, cocktail sausage rolls, stuffed devilled eggs, Frozen Grand Marnier souffle, cakes/cream scones and tea and coffee flowed throughout the afternoon. At the end of the afternoon we were presented with a red hat cake, which was unexpected and a lovely surprise, a very happy and enjoyable occasion.
Swanning around Stratford
10th UK Red Hatters Convention - October 2013 What a time we had, it’s difficult to know where to start. So from the beginning…… We arranged for a minibus to take 9 of us, that is Sheila Edwards, Me [Maggie], Maureen Crocker, Pauline Tudor, Susan Withers, Margery Mac, Sheila Mc, Laureen and Vivienne. It certainly was easier and quicker than previous journeys by coach although more expensive of course. The Holiday Inn was an excellent venue, spacious and comfortable and right in the middle of the town. When we were settled in we prepared for the evening. Shakespearean costumes were the theme and I think we did ourselves proud with our Cleopatra’s, wenches and fairy Queen. Everyone made such an effort; the costumes were fantastic and all in the colours. It was quite a sight I can tell you. The dinner was interspersed with a theatre group giving speeches from Shakespeare, which helped to set the scene. Then we enjoyed good old English country dancing, straight back to school days, what fun, but I’m still no better at telling my left from my right. The next morning a series of tour buses took us to visit the houses connected to Shakespeare and on our return we all paraded down the main street, 200 of us made quite a spectacle, we were the tourist attraction that morning. We then had a mooch around the town and a trip down the river with a good few other hatters, I don’t think the other passengers knew what was going on and the guide had a hard time keeping order. Then it was time to don our posh frocks and maximum bling for the final evening. Meal over [all the food was excellent by the way and the staff very efficient], it was time to rock and roll to a 60’s band. The next morning after a bit of fun came the handing over of ‘the hat’ to Queen Opal of the Liverbirds who is hosting the Convention next year. Time to say goodbye to new friends and others not seen for several years, and heading home happy but exhausted. I’m glad to have a whole year to recover before we do it again. Photos should be ready soon, they will certainly worth seeing. Maggie |
Christmas Lunch 2013
We celebrated Christmas this year at Mario's Place. Members were invited to decorate their hats for this occasion, The staff at Mario's were invited to choose what they thought was the best decorated Christmas hat and they chose Pauline Tudor's, a picture of her hat (below) and some of the other entries are shown in the picture gallery.
The lunch ended on a high note with a party game organized by Maureen Crocker. Above: Pauline's hat, the winner
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Hilary's Brunch
Fifteen of us attended Hilary's wonderful brunch, which was enjoyed by everyone. Hilary really is the hostess with the mostess and effortlessly produced -
Smoked Salmon (or Bacon) and scrambled eggs
Toasted Muffins and Bucks Fizz
Fresh berry compote with vanilla yogurt
Home baked double chocolate muffins with tea or coffee.
She had even gone to the trouble of making everyone a lovely bookmark.
With huge thanks to Hilary!
Smoked Salmon (or Bacon) and scrambled eggs
Toasted Muffins and Bucks Fizz
Fresh berry compote with vanilla yogurt
Home baked double chocolate muffins with tea or coffee.
She had even gone to the trouble of making everyone a lovely bookmark.
With huge thanks to Hilary!