It all started in 2000, when members of the Rylstone Women’s Institute stripped off for a calendar to raise money for charity. Since then, we’ve seen vet students, bin men and gardeners bare all to raise cash for worthy causes.

Now, male employees at one college are following (birthday) suit by producing their own naked calendar to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

The male staff from Dumfries and Galloway College, brought together by business lecturer David Ferguson, are also hoping to raise funds for charity Prostate Cancer UK.

Those taking part are from a range of departments at the college, from support staff and apprentices to lecturers and even senior managers. One apprentice has been snapped next to a photocopier, while a vice-principal is pictured doing some strategising - behind a strategically-placed desk, thankfully.

Mr Ferguson said the idea had come to him out of concern for his peers in the college. “A lot of colleges’ gentleman staff are getting to their 50s and 60s, and prostate cancer is a real danger to them. Men are generally very bad at checking their bodies,” he explained.

The lecturer, who features in the calendar himself with colleagues from the business department, sporting a carefully placed Black Forest gateaux, said he thought a calendar would be a great way to attract attention to this issue, while also raising funds, and began approaching colleagues across the college. While some were persuaded easily, in some departments colleagues tended to be “much better at recommending other people”.

Experience of cancer

The need to raise awareness was brought home to participants when they heard that one of the men involved in the calendar had himself suffered from prostate cancer. “He was one of the people who came to it quite late on who had been through treatment. That really reinforced it when he joined us. Some of us have had relatives who have been affected,” said Mr Ferguson.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with over 47,000 men diagnosed in the UK every year - 129 men every day. In Scotland, that figure stands at over 3,000 every year. “Whilst we have had a good bit of fun creating the calendar, the message behind it is very serious,” said Mr Ferguson. He urges his colleagues in the FE sector to not put “everything down to old age: keep body-aware and if in doubt consult your doctor”.

A total of 20 men now feature in the calendar, and those involved cover all ages, from an apprentice in his 20s to senior colleagues in their 60s. The calendar is being sold for £5. With the printing costs being covered by the college, Mr Ferguson is hoping to sell at least 200 copies to raise £1,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. While there had been a few good-natured jokes, he added that responses to the calendar so far had been very positive.

One of the first people to agree to take part was accountancy teacher Ian White, who stars in the calendar alongside colleagues from the college business department.

“As a team, we decided very early on we were going to do it,” he said. “I am slightly more mature [than some colleagues] and my body shows its age. I thought I wasn’t photogenic enough, but it is about the cause. I felt that was the most important part. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and we had a good laugh.” He added: “It wasn’t until after the picture was taken that I told my wife. My daughter said, ‘What a good idea, but don’t ever let me see the pictures.’”

Supporting research

Dumfries and Galloway principal Carol Turnbull said: “Prostate cancer is such a horrible disease, so the more we can do to raise awareness and support research through funding the better. I have to confess I was a bit nervous when David first approached me with the idea, but I knew I could trust him to deal with it sensitively and I think he’s done that very well.

“I am full of admiration for all the gentlemen who took part. I think it was quite a brave thing to do but I’m sure there were a few laughs along the way. The calendar is humorous, especially when you know the people involved and how it all ties in with their jobs - but with a very serious message. I am delighted that sales have gone so well and just hope the photographers aren’t too traumatised. Well done, gentlemen!”

Anyone interested in purchasing calendars can contact David Ferguson on fergusond@dumgal.ac.uk