Just reflecting back on our latest RHS gathering at Woodsies, and feeling good about how much pleasure, support and companionship I have enjoyed with this group of fascinating and resilient women.

We truly fulfil the five ‘F’s I believe, of fun, fellowship, fulfillment, freedom and fitness, which are some of the by lines of the Red Hat Society.

Women over the age of 50 have never been better in the context of history, we can expect to live longer than any other woman of earlier generations.  And being a hatter means celebrating that extra life to its fullest extent.  To refuse to be invisible, to explore new horizons, to fellowship and support each other, and, most importantly, to play!

Our group is incredibly diverse, and endlessly fascinating to me! Some are quiet, some noisy, some busy, some laid back, and every single one is an absolute gem!

I recently explained the RHS to some friends who had no idea what the group was about, and thought it was just something I had made up perhaps, made of a few dotty post menopausals; but when I explained that it was an international organisation with thousands if not hundreds of thousands of members, it made them raise their eyebrows!

We have already experienced the benefits of this widespread society, with inter group fellowship, a wonderful way of making new friends in different parts of our country.