Saucy military-themed calendar to be unveiled at Axe Vale festival in June

A group of ‘calendar girls’ are hoping to keep an important date at Axminster next month.

They are racing the clock to complete 12 pin-up pictures in time to unveil them at the Axe Vale Show in June.

Featuring the women in military uniforms, the calendar will be sold to raise money for the Soldiers off the Street charity.

The driving force behind the project is Jackie Swarbrick-Silver, showground and trade stand organiser for the Axe Vale Festival.

She has mustered a team of volunteers to create a glamour calendar with a twist, dressing the models in uniforms from the four services - and a lot of very high heels.

She explained: “I used to work for St Petrocks, in Exeter, which is a drop-in centre helping homeless people.

“I was always amazed and saddened at the number of ex-military personnel who end up on the streets. My husband is ex-army and I have many friends who have served in the forces and know how tough it can be when they come back to civvy street.

“Soldiers off the Street contacted me about having a stand at the Axe Vale Show, and because I liked what they do I offered to try and get a few ladies together to make a calendar - and I have.”

Jackie said that so far they had completed a photo shoot in “freezing” weather at Lamberts Castle featuring ex-army vehicles, and they now plan to do others to represent the other services.

She needs to find people who will lend them Navy, Marines or Airforce uniforms or give them access to ex-military vehicles, memorabilia or planes etc, to use in the shoots.

“I am also trying to get businesses to place an advert along the bottom of a ‘month’ in the calendar - costing �35 - to go towards the printing costs,” she continued.

“So far I have sold eight months. I may also try to get companies to advertise on the back page, sort of card size ads, for �10 which would then cover all the printing costs.”

It is hoped the calendars will be ready for sale at the Axe Vale Festival on June 23 and 24. They will also be available

via Facebook.

Anyone who wants to support the calendar should contact Jackie on 01297 32163 or 07885 320704.