A group of pub revellers have stripped off for a charity calendar.
The group, who regularly meet up at The Caerphilly Cwtch, stripped to their underwear to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society and Prostate Cancer UK.
The group, made up of 12 close-knit friends from Caerphilly and the Aber Valley, are known as the “12 Knights of the Cwtch” – a homage to the round table they regularly sit at for their meet-ups.
Group member Aneurin ‘Crad’ Jones said they were inspired to raise money for their chosen charities because “everyone knows someone who has been affected by Alzheimer’s”.
“We want to give something back.”
Crad also said that a friend of the group is currently fighting prostate cancer.
The calendars will go on sale for £5 each and will be available from the Caerphilly Cwtch and a number of shops in Caerphilly.
“We’re aiming to raise as much as we can. We’ve had great fun doing it,” said Crad.
The photos used in the calendar were taken in and around the Cwtch in the space of an afternoon.
According to Crad, “traffic stopped and crowds gathered” when members of the group were having their photos taken outside the pub.
Crad said: “We’ve had an unbelievable reaction. We feel like celebrities – we’ve been stopped in shops by people asking about the calendar.
“The Cwtch landlady Sara Hazel has been very supportive. The calendar will be put up in the Cwtch. The pub has helped us a lot.
“We couldn’t have done this without our secretary Gillian Collins. She’s been absolutely superb. We all appreciate everything she does – she’s been awesome.
“She’s our 13th Knight – We call her Dame Gillian.”
Gillian, who took the photographs for the calendar and is a close friend of the group, said the 12 Knights are “like fathers” to her.
The group, whose members are aged between 42 and 66, will also be holding charity walks and fundraising events, including a performance of the Full Monty at Bedwas Workmen’s Hall this summer.
In their day-to-day lives, the ‘knights’ are builders, plasterers, electricians and carers.
The group has received backing from a number of local businesses, including A Seaborne Roofing and Building Services, Caerphilly Timber Supplies Ltd, M&M Tyres Caerphilly, Trade Sales South Wales, Theo Taxis Caerphilly, Castle Construction and Caerphilly Market.
Another sponsor is Deb’s Kettlercise, which is hosting a fundraising kettlercise class with the ‘12 Knights’ at Abertridwr Community Centre at 6.30pm on Tuesday, January 28.
For more information about the group, visit their Facebook page at obv.sr/12kn