A STALYBRDGE woman’s passion for her home town is being shared across the world once again as a calendar she has compiled is sold.
Not bad for what was initially a mistake.
Jayne Bradbury has put together 12 of her finest images she caught on her doorstep for the second consecutive year, and sales are going well.
There is also a serious side to it as proceeds will be donated to Willow Wood Hospice, to add to the approximately £2,500 she raised with her 2021 effort.
However, the 53-year-old from Ridge Hill revealed she ended up being a calendar maker pretty much by error.
Jayne, who this year is also doing ones of the Highland Cattle in Carrbrook and wildlife scenes around Stalybridge, said: “This may be the second year now but the first was a bit of a mistake.
“This time last year a lady I know, Maggie Walker, told me, ‘I woke up, got on Facebook and tagged you in a post saying, ‘Hands up, who wants Jayne Bradbury to do a calendar?’
“I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’ But by the time I did that there was order after order underneath.
“I said, ‘Maggie, what are you playing at? I’ve never made a calendar in my life.’
“But I saw a printer and ordered 30 to be printed. I put it on a Facebook group and had to order more than 300 – I ended up selling about 700!
“One man, an old school friend, who wanted to remain anonymous bought two off me for £500. I ended up donating about £2,500 to Willow Wood Hospice.
“I sent more than 50 around the world, to Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Ireland, Belgium and lots of them got back to me saying, ‘I feel so homesick.’
“This year, I’ve printed 400 copies of the Stalybridge calendar but I can get more if demand allows and hopefully, I can sell them into January again like I did last year as when people get one as Christmas present, someone else may want one.”
Jayne’s passion for Stalybridge is almost as large as her talent for photography, as is showed on the £5 calendars, which can be bought in several shops around the town.
Almost as pleasing is the reaction she got on Facebook just from posting snaps online, spurring her on to do more.
Jayne added: “I went out with my pictures and got loads of encouragement. I wouldn’t have done it had I not had people saying, ‘I like your pictures.’
“People were also saying, ‘I can’t get out. I look forward to them. Where are you going next?’ It just inspired me.
“There’s not much in the town I haven’t been to but when you have a real good look, there’s loads that can be taken on camera.”
• Jayne’s calendar can be bought for £5 at shops around Stalybridge, including Four Seasons Florist, Magpies Nest and Ols bier and More. Money from the sales will again be donated to Willow Wood Hospice.