Pin up boys are sell-out

Copies of the cheeky calendar have sold so fast since it was featured in the Evening Advertiser earlier this month that another 100 are being printed.

And, much to the delight of the 15 men who posed for the photographs, the vast majority of customers have been female.

So far, the workers at BT's Technical Engineering Centre, on the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, have sold 120 copies, raising £600 for the Swindon Cancer Appeal. The total raised so far is £200, 914.

Taking inspiration from the Calendar Girls film, the guys decided to strip off for charity.

Bob Pannell, 47, from Avon-mead, Haydon Wick, who came up with the idea, is thrilled with the success.

He said: "We printed 200 to start with to see how well they would sell. They have sold so fast that we have had to print more to keep up with demand.

"A lot of our customers have been young ladies, which is funny when you think we are all middle aged guys.

"It's quite a compliment really, but I think they mainly like it because it's funny.

"Luckily, all our wives and partners have a sense of humour too.

"I think English people all share a similar sense of fun, and that comes across in the calendar."

The guys are seen clowning around and, in one shot, their modesty is only protected by strategically held newspapers.

The calendars are being sold for £10 each, with £6 going to the appeal to raise £600,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano is delighted the calendar is doing so well.

She said: "I'm so pleased for the guys, and I hope they go on to do even better. I have a copy in the office."

Bob is appealing for a local company to sponsor the next batch of calendars. The first ones were sponsored by the Defence Fixed Telecommunications Team at Corsham, which gave £300 from its charity budget.

To order a calendar, or to inquire about sponsorship, call Bob on 07802 192375.

To make a donation online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.