Tricia Stewart was born in Sunderland on 11th February 1949. She trained as a diagnostic radiographer, moving to Skipton in Yorkshire in February 1973, with her husband Ian, who worked for Ilford in the x-ray division. Tricia worked at Airedale General Hospital, leaving in 1976 to have daughter Lizzi. Her son, Micky was born in 1978.
After living in Skipton for 10 years, they moved into a small village of Cracoe in the Yorkshire Dales. On arrival in Cracoe, a neighbour, Angela Baker invited her to join the WI, telling her that the locals would think she was funny if she didn’t join.
So Tricia joined Rylestone & District WI in 1985 and became great friends with Angela. She was an active member, entering WI competitions (sometimes gaining high marks) and serving as Treasurer for 2 years.
In 1997 Tricia and Ian set up a company, TKI Medical, together selling medical educational software to Universities and hospitals. In February 1998 John Baker, Angela’s husband, was diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
A few years earlier Tricia thought it would be really amusing to do an alternative version of the traditional WI calendar, which usually featured pictures of hills, sheep and village greens. It was a joke for all that time, until touched by the serious illness of a friend; they wanted to raise money for research into blood related cancers. John knew about the calendar and thought it was a very amusing idea, but said they would never do it. When John died in July 1998, Tricia determined to go ahead with the calendar in memory of John and to raise funds for Leukaemia research. Eleven women aged between 45 and 65 were involved in the calendar. There was no difficulties recruiting models because they were all friends of John and Angela’s.
The Alternative WI Calendar was launched in April 1999. Tricia’s name and number went out with the press releases and she was on three phones for weeks! For Tricia, the calendar was like running another business; using the skills she had learnt form running the office of TKI Medical.
The media coverage was huge. The story was in the nationals every day for 3 weeks. They modelled at the Savoy in London fashion week, were voted Women of the Year, baked a spotted dick on Thames TV and took calendars to the palace for the Queen and the Queen Mother. Oldie magazine awarded them “The Oldie Exposure of the Year”.
In 1999, the calendar sold 88,000 copies in the U.K. The calendar proved inspirational and touched people’s hearts. It changed the image of the WI forever, the perception of the older woman and sold thousands of copies. People admired their courage.
A year later the calendar was published in America, selling a further 240,000 copies, promoted by two tours of the US and in 2001 Tricia’s book “Calendar Girl” was published by Pan Macmillan.
In 2004 her book “The Calendar Girl’s Story” was published and has been reprinted many times and translated into different languages including Japanese. This was followed by the 2007 calendar which was published in April 2006.
The aim had been to raise £5,000 for LRF and to have a calendar dedicated to John’s memory. The effect of the calendar was expected to last 3 weeks, but 5 years on it has raised nearly a million pounds for LRF.
In September 2003, the blockbusting film “Calendar Girls” based on the story of the Alternative WI Calendar, was premiered at the Odeon, Leicester Square. In the film, Tricia’s character was played by Helen Mirren. June 2003 saw the launch of a second calendar featuring the 6 actresses from the film and the six original WI members.
The stage version hit the West End on the 4th April 2009 at the Noel Coward Theatre with Anita Dobson who has taken over playing Tricia from Lynda Bellingham and it is playing to full house every night.
Tricia is an incredibly inspirational, motivating and amusing speaker is constantly being booked by audiences keen to hear her story and she undertakes in excess of 100 speaking engagements each year to clients as diverse as South Wales Police, Institute of Health Management, Derby & District Law Society, P&O. North West Practice Nurse Association, Rotary International, Chambers of Commerce, Business Links as well as numerous Ladies Luncheon Clubs and WI Federations.
The latest, and allegedly last, 2010 Calendar was launched in May 2009 and has, once again, taken the world by storm.
Testimonials
Tricia received a standing ovation at our luncheon today - the first time I have ever known a speaker get that sort of applause.
Glenda Caley
Events Assistant Manager
I just wanted to let you know that Trisha's after dinner speech at out annual conference was excellent. It was actually the highlight of the conference. This is the second time I've heard Trisha speak and I could listen again and again. It was just so inspirational and a wonderful story. Everyone has been talking about it since. It will be a hard act to follow next year.
Gail Gourlay
Head of Housing Services
Trust Housing Association
Tricia Stewart recently gave a talk at our Awards Evening and she was absolutely outstanding.
Lorraine Hopkins
Acting PA/Corporate Business Administrator
Bournemouth Teaching Primary Care Trust
Your long awaited visit to Hampden Spring has been the highlight of our year and we very much appreciate you coming to tell us how the alternative calendar really evolved. Your talk was very entertaining and we greatly admire your spirit and inspiration to encourage 11 other ladies to do the unthinkable in order to raise money for such a good cause. You must be so proud of such a wonderful achievement.
Juliet
Hampden Spring Group WI
Thank you so very much for giving us all such a wonderful time with your talk.
Diana Moran
Northamptonshire County Federation of WI’s
Your speech was so inspiring about how you and your friends took a brilliant and original idea and went on to make over £1 million for charity.
April Hall
Head of Finance and Fundraising
Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice
Judging by all the favourable comments we have received everyone enjoyed hearing about your Calendar Girl experiences. Your speech was illuminating and inspiration and it was a joy to see the delighted faces and hear the genuine laughter in response.
Mary Prince
Chairman
Wigtown Local Rural Partnership
Twitter Name - #wicalendargirl
After living in Skipton for 10 years, they moved into a small village of Cracoe in the Yorkshire Dales. On arrival in Cracoe, a neighbour, Angela Baker invited her to join the WI, telling her that the locals would think she was funny if she didn’t join.
So Tricia joined Rylestone & District WI in 1985 and became great friends with Angela. She was an active member, entering WI competitions (sometimes gaining high marks) and serving as Treasurer for 2 years.
In 1997 Tricia and Ian set up a company, TKI Medical, together selling medical educational software to Universities and hospitals. In February 1998 John Baker, Angela’s husband, was diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
A few years earlier Tricia thought it would be really amusing to do an alternative version of the traditional WI calendar, which usually featured pictures of hills, sheep and village greens. It was a joke for all that time, until touched by the serious illness of a friend; they wanted to raise money for research into blood related cancers. John knew about the calendar and thought it was a very amusing idea, but said they would never do it. When John died in July 1998, Tricia determined to go ahead with the calendar in memory of John and to raise funds for Leukaemia research. Eleven women aged between 45 and 65 were involved in the calendar. There was no difficulties recruiting models because they were all friends of John and Angela’s.
The Alternative WI Calendar was launched in April 1999. Tricia’s name and number went out with the press releases and she was on three phones for weeks! For Tricia, the calendar was like running another business; using the skills she had learnt form running the office of TKI Medical.
The media coverage was huge. The story was in the nationals every day for 3 weeks. They modelled at the Savoy in London fashion week, were voted Women of the Year, baked a spotted dick on Thames TV and took calendars to the palace for the Queen and the Queen Mother. Oldie magazine awarded them “The Oldie Exposure of the Year”.
In 1999, the calendar sold 88,000 copies in the U.K. The calendar proved inspirational and touched people’s hearts. It changed the image of the WI forever, the perception of the older woman and sold thousands of copies. People admired their courage.
A year later the calendar was published in America, selling a further 240,000 copies, promoted by two tours of the US and in 2001 Tricia’s book “Calendar Girl” was published by Pan Macmillan.
In 2004 her book “The Calendar Girl’s Story” was published and has been reprinted many times and translated into different languages including Japanese. This was followed by the 2007 calendar which was published in April 2006.
The aim had been to raise £5,000 for LRF and to have a calendar dedicated to John’s memory. The effect of the calendar was expected to last 3 weeks, but 5 years on it has raised nearly a million pounds for LRF.
In September 2003, the blockbusting film “Calendar Girls” based on the story of the Alternative WI Calendar, was premiered at the Odeon, Leicester Square. In the film, Tricia’s character was played by Helen Mirren. June 2003 saw the launch of a second calendar featuring the 6 actresses from the film and the six original WI members.
The stage version hit the West End on the 4th April 2009 at the Noel Coward Theatre with Anita Dobson who has taken over playing Tricia from Lynda Bellingham and it is playing to full house every night.
Tricia is an incredibly inspirational, motivating and amusing speaker is constantly being booked by audiences keen to hear her story and she undertakes in excess of 100 speaking engagements each year to clients as diverse as South Wales Police, Institute of Health Management, Derby & District Law Society, P&O. North West Practice Nurse Association, Rotary International, Chambers of Commerce, Business Links as well as numerous Ladies Luncheon Clubs and WI Federations.
The latest, and allegedly last, 2010 Calendar was launched in May 2009 and has, once again, taken the world by storm.
Testimonials
Tricia received a standing ovation at our luncheon today - the first time I have ever known a speaker get that sort of applause.
Glenda Caley
Events Assistant Manager
I just wanted to let you know that Trisha's after dinner speech at out annual conference was excellent. It was actually the highlight of the conference. This is the second time I've heard Trisha speak and I could listen again and again. It was just so inspirational and a wonderful story. Everyone has been talking about it since. It will be a hard act to follow next year.
Gail Gourlay
Head of Housing Services
Trust Housing Association
Tricia Stewart recently gave a talk at our Awards Evening and she was absolutely outstanding.
Lorraine Hopkins
Acting PA/Corporate Business Administrator
Bournemouth Teaching Primary Care Trust
Your long awaited visit to Hampden Spring has been the highlight of our year and we very much appreciate you coming to tell us how the alternative calendar really evolved. Your talk was very entertaining and we greatly admire your spirit and inspiration to encourage 11 other ladies to do the unthinkable in order to raise money for such a good cause. You must be so proud of such a wonderful achievement.
Juliet
Hampden Spring Group WI
Thank you so very much for giving us all such a wonderful time with your talk.
Diana Moran
Northamptonshire County Federation of WI’s
Your speech was so inspiring about how you and your friends took a brilliant and original idea and went on to make over £1 million for charity.
April Hall
Head of Finance and Fundraising
Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice
Judging by all the favourable comments we have received everyone enjoyed hearing about your Calendar Girl experiences. Your speech was illuminating and inspiration and it was a joy to see the delighted faces and hear the genuine laughter in response.
Mary Prince
Chairman
Wigtown Local Rural Partnership
Twitter Name - #wicalendargirl
Tricia’s talk covers the amazing journey of the last nine years.
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Twitter