Summer 2022
Wear A Hat Day 2022
by Bee Smith
What is “Wear A Hat Day”?
Wear A Hat Day is held on three days each year and aims to raise awareness and money to support the charity, Brain Tumour Research. I was asked to coordinate the British Hat Guild’s efforts this year, alongside fellow milliner, Judy Bentick. We invited all members of the BHG to host their own Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties, wherever they were based in the UK and they didn’t disappoint!
On 25th March this year, I invited friends, family and clients to join me at the Rose Theatre in Kingston to celebrate Wear A Hat Day – the Mayor of Kingston and local MP Sarah Olney were also kind enough to attend. There were sweet treats and hats galore for guests to try on and have their photos taken to raise vital funds to continue the charity’s work, as well as raise awareness of brain tumour research.
It was lovely to see all the hat selfies from fellow guild-members as well as photos of their own tea parties in their studios and gardens. Paul Stafford of The Season’s Hats held a Mad Hatter’s SustainabiliTEA party, where guests could revitalize pre-existing hats, giving them a new lease of life while enjoying tea and cake kindly donated by the White Horse Hotel in Londonderry. Sophie Lambe of Reel Millinery hosted a cake sale at Pinewood Studios for the cast of the new Snow White film.
Some Statistics
In the UK, 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year. Although not always fatal, brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer – however, only 1% of the national cancer research funding is allocated to finding a cure for this disease.
Brain Tumour Research says: “We are the only national charity in the UK focused on finding a cure for all types of brain tumours through campaigning to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million per year, while fundraising to create a network of seven sustainable Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK.”
How The British Hat Guild Supports Brain Tumour Research
Hugh Adams, Head of Stakeholder Relations has been working at the charity Brain Tumour Research for over a decade and says the support of milliners has been crucial in the growth of Wear A Hat Day.
“It really has been a thrill to have engaged with the millinery community over the years. We have had inspired designs for our signature brooches from Philip Treacy, Stephen Jones, Vivian Sheriff, Edwina Ibbotson, Noel Stewart and more and this year’s brooch is a typically elegant piece inspired by a Rachel Trevor Morgan design. We’ve loved the patronage of Lock Hatters and developing relationships with the London Hat Week and The Hat Magazine. At the core of this wonderful millinery support is the British Hat Guild and the open, collaborative and creative way they have joined with us. Wear A Hat Day is now nationally recognised and has raised over £1 million to support our vital work. People cannot support a cause unless they know it exists and working with the BHG helps us, not just raise money but to raise vital awareness of the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40 and of the need for better funded research as the route to improving patient options and outcomes. From all of us at the charity we send sincerest thanks to all of you for what you have done, what you are doing and what you will do in support of Brain Tumour Research. We are proud to share our day, Wear A Hat Day, with you. Working together we can get closer to a cure. “
Future Events and How to Get Involved
Wear A Hat With Flowers Day – Friday 17th June 2022
Brain Tumour Research works with milliners and florists to run fun fundraisers with a botanical theme. Visit the Brain Tumour Research website for information and to register.
Wear A Christmas Hat Day – December 2022
Why not spread some Christmas cheer by getting involved with a festive fundraiser? Visit the Brain Tumour Research website for information about dates and how to register.