Did We Do All This?

Celebrating New Year in London

British Red Hatters were invited to join their American &

Canadian Red Hat Sisters for Champagne at the Fireworks Party on the balcony of the Royal Horseguards Hotel

Within earshot of Big Ben welcoming in 2008 Best View in London

First ‘Official Entry of the British Red Hatters to the New Year’s Day Parade London

What a great thrill it was for all the British Red Hatter’s who had reserved places on the official open top bus from Westminster to Green Park to wish tourists to London a Happy New Year!

Later we all enjoyed a delicious full English afternoon Tea at the Royal HorseGuards and we  were all presented with Official Participant  Medals

Queen of Queens

What a fun gathering, and how we all enjoyed the company of Joan, who certainly brought a very lively atmosphere with her jokes to our evening.

Everyone had a chance to chat with her and her enthusiasm for Red Hatting was infectious. 

Ruby Belles Support the Launch of the london Red Hatters

Our own Lady Lorna has now  started her own chapter in London and seven Ruby Belles and Queen LindyLou joined her at Liverpool Street Station for the launch after which we enjoyed an Indian lunch at Spitalfields                  

Lorna had a total of 30 to boost the start of her group  with Ladies from Norwich Milton Keynes  and other chapters who travelled in to London to support her

Lorna will be known as Q, We wish her a happy and frivolous future we just know her chapter will grow & grow 

South Pacific

In January we attended a production of South Pacific at the Mercury Theatre Colchester

 

Coronation of Queen LindyLou

Joan, H R H  Queen Bee crowns our own LindyLou, Princess of the Purple Pen, Queen of the Ruby Belles in a surprise ceremony at the White Hart Hotel Witham on Friday 4 January 2008

On such a momentous occasion Queen LindyLou was thrilled that so many of her Royal Court were in

Attendance as were her close friends Q, of the London Red Hatters and Queen Millsy of the Purple Pearls Colchester

 Quiz

15 Belles & 1 Guest fielded two teams of five and one of six at the Green Party Quiz at the White Hart on the 8 February. The Ann Summers R & D  team captained by Lady Tinkerbell scored 78, with Queen LindyLou’s, Linda’s Lovelies scoring 77and Lady Beatrice’s team the Purple Perils with a score of 51.

Our teams were placed 5th,6th and 10th out of 10 teams

A good fun night was  enjoyed by all with great enthusiasm to take part in another quiz later in the year

Dinner at Azzurro     

15 Belles and 8 Guests attended a very nice evening at the Azzuro Italian Restaurant Witham , on Wednesday 13 February. New friends and old enjoyed a fun evening each   receiving a Valentine card and Rose from Queen LindyLou.

 Afternoon Tea

10 Ruby Belles and 1 Guest enjoyed tea and coffee and at the White Hart on the afternoon of Wednesday 27th a great chance to chat

 

White Hart Dinner

Dinner on the 7 March was enjoyed by nineteen Ruby Belles, two newbee guests plus a close friend of Queen LindyLou from Ohio, Jackie Jerabek

Despite being an American this was Jackie’s first experience of Red Hatting, she thoroughly enjoyed the evening and  especially the friendliness of the Ruby Belles. She will  definitely join us again whenever her U K visits allow

Easter Lunch

The Ruby Belles, Gardening Gals enjoyed a fun lunch at Perrywoods Tiptree on the 18th March. Our numbers being happily boosted to 19 with the company of Queen Millsy and 6 Purple Pearls, our first joint outing, a great success and hoped to be the first of many! The Ruby Belles exchanged Easter related gifts before we all perused the nurseries and gift shop. We were received well by Perrywoods and caused much interest amongst other diners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Friday the 25 April around 80 Ladies from the East of England celebrated the 10th Birthday of the Red Hat Society ,everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the beautiful Spring sunshine. We enjoyed an open topped bus tour around  Cambridge that pointed out all or most of the Colleges, The Backs and of course the River Cam
Part way around we took a short stop at the American Cemetery, it was very dignified and actually seeing all the Ladies in their colours amongst the shimmering white of the Portland stone was quite a moving and respectful sight.

We continued on to Queens’ College and after photograph’s we entered the Old Court of the 15th Century Manor House across the famous Mathematical Bridge to be welcomed into The Old Dining Rooms with a glass of Buck’s Fizz. The original dining hall at Queens’ College Cambridge, has been used by Fellows and students for over 500 years, the interior is richly decorated and above the Tudor fireplace are tiles attributed to William Morris and his associates, together with a Minstrel’s Gallery the hall provides an historical atmosphere in a very unique and truly splendid setting. We enjoyed a super hot & cold buffet lunch with wine, deserts, tea or coffee plus the chance for chapters to mix and chat.   Later many ladies strolled into town and some even went punting, we certainly spread the Red & Purple much to the delight of many locals and tourists

Canadian Visitor  

Linda ,Queen LindyLou and Sue, Vice Queen Baroness Bookworm were joined by Margaret Queen Millsy, 21 Ruby Belles, 3 Purple Pearls an 1 Boudicca Babe in welcoming our ex-pat ’Essex Girl’ Canadian sister Sandi Cleary visiting from Vancouver. Sandi managed to get chance to chat with everyone and we received lovely Red Car Mirror Hats. We presented Sandi with British Badges & Tote Bag

50th Spalding Flower Festival

The Ruby Belles enjoyed a very warm and exhausting day at the Spalding Flower Festival in Lincolnshire

Meeting up with Queen JuneRose and the lovely Ladies of the Femme Fatales of Holbeach   

Sunday Lunch

Five ladies joined Queen LindyLou for a very nice carvery lunch, enjoyable chance to chat & catch up

Our May Dinner was once again at Azzurru, the food as always was excellent 15 Ruby Belles plus two guests attended and a fun evening was enjoyed by all.

Lunch and Open Garden Friday 16 May Wickham Place Farm

 Twelve ladies enjoyed lunch at the Chequers pub in Wickham Bishops before going on to the garden open in aid of Farleigh Hospice, we enjoyed the 2 acre walled garden with huge climbers, roses and wisterias cascading into borders bursting with shrubs, perennials and bulbs and later enjoyed tea and cakes in the summer house

Deben River Cruise

Seven Ruby Belles joined the Purple Pearls for an afternoon cruise along the River Deben

Whilst it was not a cold or wet afternoon  it was quite blustery and overcast. We sailed from Waldringfield  towards  Felixstowe  Ferry Port and then back

There were plenty of crafts on the River and many places of interest including Bawdsey Manor and the Martello Tower . The river being a favorite  smuggling spot in earlier centuries  and  Churchill used the River during the war to fool the Germans into believing that the D-Day Landings would come from the East Coast not the South Coast of England, as well as an area frequented regularly by Arthur Ransome of Swallows and Amazon s fame

 

Ruby Red Hat Sweet Pea

Seven Ruby Belles attended RHS Wisley for the official launch of the Red Hat Sweet Pea Ruby Red Hat

The Sweet Pea is very pretty & will be available in the Fothergill's Winter Brochure. Amazingly it is winter flowering so  plant in late Autumn they will adorn your Christmas Dinner Table

Over 80 Ladies from Chapters around the South of England enjoyed the gardens after which a Traditional English Afternoon Tea was served

The Mansion House London

We joined the London Red Hatters for a very interesting & fun tour of the Mansion House in London and despite the difficulties of the  journey home we all agreed it was a splendid day out

June Lunch at Poplar

Nine Ladies were joined by Queen Millsy and one of her Purple Pearls, Vice Queen Sue  was Queen for the day as QLL was delayed and only arrived in time for a coffee before everyone left for home, however a splendid lunch was enjoyed by all attending

 

Jeff Short Big Band

Before the dance we met at Ria Chinese Restaurant for a meal which we all agreed was a great idea

The evening was super with the band playing a wide range of great 40’s music

At the Interval we feasted on a massive Strawberry Tart that QLL  had  earlier purchased from the Food Company much to the envy of others around us

 

 

                                

 

 

 

 

We attended a Garden Party in aid of Farleigh Hospice and Quilt Show in aid of Headway

Newmarket Ladies Day
Over 30 Belles and Pearls enjoyed a super day out at Newmarket meeting up with other red Hatters from East Anglia
 

In August we visited Brick Lane Music Hall with the London Red Hatters later meeting up at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with Queen Blabalot of the Red Hat Divas Kelowna B C Canada

Many Thanks to Janet, Lady Beatrice and DH Maurice for allowing us to use their garden for the Ruby Belles Garden Party which was a great success on a very hot afternoon

Our visit to New Hall Vineyards started August off well,  after an interesting slide show and short tour we all had the chance to become wine buffs with a quality score card for us to complete as we tasted each of the eight wines and their, Champers. We then enjoyed a very delicious Ploughman’s Supper whilst finishing off the very generous servings of wine, Thanks to the drivers on the evening who were unable to indulge quite as much as everyone else and their safe driving home on an evening which ended with a wild electric storm

We attended The Savoy Players production of the Yeoman of the Guard before their performances at this years Buxton Festival 

We joined the Purple Pearls again on their lunch date to the Maize Maze at Blake House near Braintree. Starting with a coffee , chat and catch up we then had great fun in the Maize, shopping at the units followed by lunch in the café. We brought a lot of colour to a sunny Summer day and quite a bit of interest to other visitors

Thank you to the Purple Pearls for inviting us to their fun afternoon, a very interesting talk and demonstration of Tai Chi with a chance to have a go at the first few movements, plus lovely tea & cakes

Ruby Belles Liverpool Tour ~ A Great Success!

See More on 'City of Culture' page

September

Was much more than a tour to Liverpool City of Culture but it did seem to take over for the ladies who enjoyed the visit

We also enjoyed our 1st Anniversary Buffet with a great turn out of 38 Ladies and then on the 17th we visited Mill Race Garden Centre where 14 ladies enjoyed lunch

Queen LindyLou’s Macmillan Garden Party on a warm    September afternoon was enjoyed by 22 Ladies including friends from the Purple Pearls, raising a Grand £175, Thanks!

 

Ruby Belles Attend the 2008 Convention

Swindon ~ Wiltshire

12 Ruby Belles showed a United Front and enjoyed a fun week-end. Our ‘Eastern’ theme costumes looking fabulous for the ‘Belly Dancing’ evening on the Friday. The Queen & Vice Queen welcoming everyone to their ’suite’ for a pre-dinner glass of bubbly. Everyone again looking stunning for the ’Casino Royale’ Dinner and Disco, plus Roulette on the Saturday evening