Red Hat Society East Anglian chapters meet in Great Yarmouth to celebrate society’s nineteenth birthday

A society marked its nineteenth birthday in a sea of bright red hats and purple dresses.

The Red Hat Society East Anglian chapters met at Great Yarmouth's St George's Theatre to mark the society's 19th anniversary. Photo: George Ryan - Credit: Archant

To mark Red Hat Society Day on April 25 around 100 women across East Anglia gathered at the St George's Theatre, in Great Yarmouth, and the borough's mayor Malcolm Bird hosted the group.

They were celebrating 19 years since the society formed in America in 1998.

The movement was inspired by the oft-quoted Jenny Joseph poem 'Warning' which begins 'When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple, with a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.'

Its founder gave her friend a red hat on her 55th birthday to encourage her friend to grow older in a playful manner.

The Red Hat Society East Anglian chapters met at Great Yarmouth's St George's Theatre to mark the society's 19th anniversary. Photo: George Ryan - Credit: Archant

The organisers of the Yarmouth event were Amanda Lawrence from Norwich-based Minxy's Marvers, Bez Brown from Downham Divas and Carol Turner from Norwich Prima Donnas.