To celebrate their 20th anniversary, dozens of members of The Red Hat Society (RHS) met outside Ely Cathedral on Saturday (June 9).

Ely Standard: Photographer Andy Murfitt was outside the front of Ely Cathedral when the Red Hatters asked him to take a group photo. He was then invited to lunch at The Cutter but had to turn it down.Photographer Andy Murfitt was outside the front of Ely Cathedral when the Red Hatters asked him to take a group photo. He was then invited to lunch at The Cutter but had to turn it down. (Image: Archant)

As part of ‘Worldwide Hoot Day’, a local branch of the all-female group held its ‘hoot’ just before lunchtime.

Member Janet Smith said: “The RHS started 20 years ago in America, and there are now ‘Hatters’ all over the world.

“Red Hatters gather locally in groups known as chapters, and these chapters are led by queens.

“Rita Burton and I are queens of the Flower Fairies from Sapiston Suffolk, and I am also an ambassador of the RHS. The hoot is an unstructured event - we show up to play, no agenda, no fuss, totally fun.

“Several of us arrived by train, us Red Hatters love visiting Ely, and as we dressed in purple with red hats (under 50s wear pink hats) to create quite a splash of colour.”

Visit www.redhatsociety.com for more information.