It's A Red Hat Thing !

The Red Hat Society is an international social organization for women aged 50 and over. Younger ones can join as Pink Hat Ladies-in-Waiting. In 1997, Sue Ellen Cooper, an artist from Fullerton, California, purchased an old red fedora from a thrift shop in Tucson Arizona. When a friend was nearing her 55th birthday, Sue Ellen wanted an original gift. Inspired by a Jenny Joseph poem, 'Warning', which begins " When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat, which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.," she gave her friend a Red Hat as a reminder to grow older playfully and on her terms. Sue Ellen repeated the gift on request on several occasions and the women bought purple outfits and held a tea party on April 25th 1998, at which The Red Hat Society was born. There are now over 70,000 members around the world.. There were 200 of the ladies in Cambridge today, staying at Downing College. These kindly posed for me.  They were the Red Hat Bees from Barwell, Leics, UK. The lady, second from left is Vice Queen Mavis, aka as Mave the Rave. They  have a zest for life, enjoying fun and friendship with a Red Hat on their heads. The Society's motto is, Red Hatters Matter.