Your stories

The Scarlet Ladies was founded by Beth Dale and is part of the worldwide network of The Red Hat Society. The society isn't a charity or profit-making club, they simply encourage ladies over 50 to have fun, whilst dressing in red hats and purple clothing.

It all started in 1998 in the USA when Sue Ellen Cooper gave her friends red hats, along with a copy of the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph. Inspired by this poem the friends decided to dress in purple and hold a tea party, the idea snowballed from there.

Beth Dale - The Scarlet Ladies

Beth Dale first became interested in the Red Hat Society when she attended a concert in Nashville. "We saw a sea of red hats and it was amazing. There are no rules, but we try to make it for ladies over 50 if possible. One of our founder members was just under 50, so she wears a pink hat and lilac clothing, a red hatter in training."

Each group is run differently, "I wanted to do things such as go for lunch, to the theatre or the races, the nice things. It was quite a surprise when we asked the ladies what they wanted to do. Some of the 70 year olds said we’d like to go jet skiing, white water rafting, rallying. They weren’t the things I expected!", says Beth.

There are over 40 thousand groups worldwide in countries as diverse as Sweden and China. There are two chapters in North Yorkshire, The Harrogate Hatters and the York Scarlet Ladies.

"There’s a network of people over 50 that just want the chance to do things that they can’t do on their own and say look at me, I’m 50 and I’m not gonna grow old gracefully and it’s another way to embarrass the kids and the grandchildren," says Beth.

Margaret Bodage

Margaret Bodage from Acomb had always wanted to be involved in some sort of group "I'm 60 now and I've learnt to drive and I'm learning to swim. I just want to do a bit more for myself. I’ve had three children and all you do when they’re little is run around after them. I’ve got four grandchildren. I just thought it seemed so fun. Just something different."