The Sidmouth Community has once again come together and put their hats on in support of two local women who are living with brain tumours.
Today, Friday, March 26, is Wear A Hat Day for Brain Tumour Research, an annual event to raise awareness and fundraise for the charity and one the Sidmouth community has come to adopt. It has become the town’s way of showing its support to two local women, Charlotte Reid and Charlie Gwillim, who are each living with the effects of the illness.
Sidmouth Herald: Charlie Gwillim with best friend Ella RobinsonCharlie Gwillim with best friend Ella Robinson (Image: Alexa Baker)

Sidmouth Herald: Charlie Gwillim and Charlotte Reid by the seaCharlie Gwillim and Charlotte Reid by the sea (Image: KYLE BAKER PHOTOGRAPHY)

A year ago the ‘Sidmouth Does Wear A Hat Week’ committee, Angie and Charlotte Reid, Charlie Gwillim, Sarah French, Julie Marish, Liz Clode and Alexa Baker, were set to celebrate the ‘two C’s by the sea’ but instead were faced with cancelling a week of events at very short notice due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sidmouth Herald: Bennet and Rogers winning hat displayBennet and Rogers winning hat display (Image: Alexa Baker)
Alexa Baker from the committee said: “The town’s local businesses had decorated hats which were judged but winners Bennett and Rogers Opticians have yet to receive their prize. Local clubs and societies had to cancel their hat wearing plans as lockdown loomed and local author, Janet Dowling, had compiled and printed a book “Bold girls wear hats” which couldn’t be sold anywhere.”

Sidmouth Herald: Johanna Morgan dons a chef's hatJohanna Morgan dons a chef's hat (Image: Alexa Baker)
Alexa also said: “We are pleased to say that Charlotte Reid has just celebrated her 21st birthday and Charlie Gwillim is living each day as it comes especially when there’s beautiful sunshine and they are very grateful for your support in raising awareness of the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. Thank you!”

Sidmouth Herald: Author Janet DowlingAuthor Janet Dowling (Image: Alexa Baker)
Although ‘Sidmouth Does Wear A Hat’ aren’t holding any fundraising events this March, some of its supporters are, including:

  • Johanna Morgan and her JMDanceFit crew who will be sporting hats during their online classes.
  • Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee (Liz Clode and Alexa Baker) will be taking a stroll around the town wearing their special hats over the weekend to raise awareness.
  • Ella Robinson, Charlie Gwillim’s best friend, has set herself the challenge of walking 250 miles in March.
  • Another friend of Charlie, Jasmine White, has been crocheting hats and selling them, donating £1 from each sale to Brain Tumour Research. Jasmine has already donated £100 to the charity!

To join in and help support Charlie and Charlotte and the work by Brain Tumour Research charity:
You can wear a hat on Friday and post your photo to Sidmouth Does Wear A Hat Week #charlottesarmy on Facebook. You can purchase a copy of Bold Girls Wear Hats, £3+ £1 postage, by emailing janettells@gmail.com.
You can buy a hat from Jasmine, (link on Sidmouth Does Wear A Hat Week FB page)
You can support Ella by donating to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ella-robinson93. Or you can make a donation to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/SidmouthWearAHatWeek

Sidmouth Herald: Some of the supporters for Charlotte's Army wearing their hats for Wear A Hat DaySome of the supporters for Charlotte's Army wearing their hats for Wear A Hat Day (Image: Alexa Baker)

Sidmouth Herald: JM DanceFit members get their hats out!JM DanceFit members get their hats out! (Image: Alexa Baker)

Sidmouth Herald: Alexa Baker and Liz Clode bring raise a smile during a previous eventAlexa Baker and Liz Clode bring raise a smile during a previous event (Image: Alexa Baker)