MEMBERS of a North Devon Women's Institute (WI) charity were left embarrassed after a number of them had dressed up as pirates for a talk by a former sea captain who had been held hostage by Somali pirates for several weeks, reports the North Devon Journal.
Local WI treasurer Stephanie George had suggested they dress up for the talk. "I suspected it was a general talk about piracy or something to do with the Appledore Pirates, the fundraising group," she said.
"I work in a bookshop and on the morning of the day the meeting, I noticed Colin Darch's book and put two and two together. I thought, 'Oh god, how awful!' By then, it was too late, and I just thought we would have to go with it. It was lucky Colin was such a good sport. There he was delivering this harrowing story about how he was held hostage and feared for his life, and we were all were dressed as Captain Hook," Mrs George said.
"Of course I didn't take offence. It was more like the Pirates of Penzance," said Capt Darch, referring the 1890s Gilbert & Sullivan set in Penzance, a town in the neighbouring county of Cornwall.
"I must admit I quite enjoy giving talks to such groups. They are really lovely ladies. They made me judge who was the best dressed which was a difficult choice. In the end I decided to choose the one with who had a fluffy parrot on her shoulder. Of course there weren't any parrots near the real pirates."
PIRACY
03 May 2013 - 21:55
Pirates asked charity ladies to "dress up!"
MEMBERS of a North Devon Women's Institute (WI) charity were left embarrassed after a number of them had dressed up as pirates for a talk by a former sea captain
PIRACY
03 May 2013 - 21:55
English charity ladies embarrassed by jocular treatment of real piracy
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