Meet the Brixham Mermaids baring all for naked calendar

A group of plucky - and cheeky - friends have bared all to raise money for a good cause.
They first bonded through Pilates classes and then sea swimming.
Now they have thrown caution - as well as their swimming costumes - to the wind and posed naked for a calendar as the Brixham Mermaids.
Their goal is to raise money for the port's Shoalstone outdoor pool which faces a repair bill running into thousands of pounds.
The friends first turned to each other for support and comfort during the isolation and tough days of Covid.
Now they've given a new meaning to 'breast-stroke' after watching the Calendar Girls film and thinking 'we can do that!'
Jenny Harriman lost her husband during Covid in May, 2020.
She said: "It was so important to have friends and keep swimming, especially as John died. It has been a hard few years, but the Mermaid calendar has lifted all our spirits."
She added: "My husband was ill when covid struck and I couldn’t see him. I was at an all-time low, but a daily swim in the sea throughout that year helped clear the ‘brain fog’ in spite of the cold temperatures. When I spoke to two of my Pilates friends they decided they also would like to take up sea swimming and asked me to go with them for their initial dip on May 1, 2021. John died during Covid. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, which was finally recognised as Lewy Body dementia.
"As soon as we were told to stay home, John gave up, he didn't understand why I wasn't going to visit Hillhouse, or if I did, why I wasn't allowed into to see him. Thanks to nurse (and Mermaid) Lesley who looked after him I got through. Such a loss after 50 years and no funeral. I met an old contact at the beach early yesterday morning who didn't know. Thank goodness for swimming and friends. "
Jenny, the August Mermaid added: "We went to see Calendar Girls at the Brixham Theatre and afterwards someone said ‘We could do that’ and so the idea was born. We wanted to raise money for a worthy cause and the Shoalstone Sea Water Pool was an obvious choice. The pool is a great asset to Brixham and is in desperate need of money for repairs and maintenance.”
"We swim every week of the year and the benefits of our cold water dips, both physical and mental, are enormous.” says Jane Rudge, January Mermaid, “It all started as an informal group who met on Breakwater beach and has now grown into a really close group of friends who support each other. Yes, it’s cold in the winter but it’s also great fun and the benefits are substantial.”
There are 12 mermaids whose ages range from 40 to 73. They come from a variety of backgrounds including education, nursing, the care sector, broadcasting, event management and writing. “Sea swimming has proven benefits for physical and mental health.” says Jo Taylor, November Mermaid. “We can arrived at the beach stressed but within 10 minutes we are relaxed, chilled and laughing. It’s a great tonic and it’s free.”
The Mermaids say that today many people are stressed whether it’s because of the economic pressures, social pressures or simply the demands of a family or job. A short dip in the sea with friends can really help.
Torbay Council recognises the huge benefits such groups offer and has generously supported the charity project with a grant from the Community Fund. The Mermaids say the council hopes the Brixham Mermaids’ Calendar will inspire others to establish similar groups to boost well-being, health and fitness in Torbay.
The calendar was photographed in and around Brixham by Jo's husband, Trevor Taylor. He said: “The Mermaids were wonderful to work with and entered into the spirit of the whole project. I was glad to be asked to shoot the calendar and all credit to the ladies who bared-all tastefully in support of the Shoalstone Pool. Many of the shots were taken very early in the morning when no one was around. It was very cold but they didn’t grumble. All credit to the Brixham Mermaids.”
Jenny Harriman said: "Thanks to Trevor’s hard work and artistic eye, we have produced a professional calendar for 2024, which is on sale at the Breakwater Bistro, our favoured swim base. We are a range of shapes and sizes and ages and hope to inspire others to have fun, spend time with friends and swim in either of the two Brixham pools or the sea.
"Trevor spent a lot of time preparing for the photo shoots, often in the early morning to avoid people, planning on the right weather and tide. Lesley emerging from Shoalstone pool took 40 takes, whilst Stella was stripped off outside her beach hut when the Torbay council van needed access and she had to leap up. He said 'it made their day'.
The Calendar is on sale at the Breakwater Bistro. It costs £7.95, monies raised will go to Shoalstone pool which needs annual repairs due to the north easterly storms that bash it every winter.
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