A little after noon found me walking down South Street from the north and it was in this place and at this time that I spotted – through squinted eyes on account of the sun's position directly ahead of me – an explosion of reds and whites at eye level. Aha! I thought. It could only be Chichester's famous Red Head Gang (not to be confused with the equally fantastic Red Hand Gang from Canada in the 1970s) out for a bit of a neighbourhood patrol.
The ladies of the gang were deep in conversation as I approached – I heard the words "protection" and "respect" and the phrase "break his legs" in hushed tones – but I couldn't take a photo. Not out of fear, of course, because I am at least as tough as five elderly women sporting red headwear. No, I couldn't take the snap because they were backlit by that accursed ball of plasma 93 million miles away! A pox on it!
I needed to get the sun at my back. This meant walking past the gang and turning around. I've turned around before and felt confident that this manoeuvre would not be beyond my abilities and so it was to be but, alas! The ladies had started to move on in the opposite direction! I let out my best Muttley grumble and took a shot of their backsides.
I don't normally take shots of elderly gang members' backsides but I don't think it came out too bad.
Submitted for #SaturdayStyle (or #SAS ) curated by +lynn langmade and +lane langmade because there's a sub-theme today of hats (or headwear in general) today.
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August 11, 2012
As always Mark, such an entertaining read sir! You always hit the mark Mark with your stories. Man who knows they may well be part of the original cast from the excellent red hand gang 🙂 It seems liks such a long time ago. I'm getting old, i may need to go get my read hat and do a spot of gardening! toodle pip! Have a good weekend. 🙂
August 11, 2012
Has anyone ever suggested that you should be a comedian as well as a photographer!
August 11, 2012
I blame Jenny Joseph: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/warning/
August 11, 2012
Excellent
August 11, 2012
haha +Mark Hooper this had me rollin! 'normally don't take shots of elderly people's back sides.. too funny! what a great way to start my day sir!!! thanks for your #SAturdayStyle  shot!Â
August 11, 2012
You should send this to the Red Hat Society and suggest they change their name. Red Head Gang is much better.
August 11, 2012
Great post for #SaturdayStyle's "hat" edition and I'm especially digging the "a pox on it" language 🙂
August 12, 2012
Man, you live a dangerous life! Going after 5 red hatted grey panthers is…. quite insane!
August 12, 2012
Great colour +Mark Hooper. The red of the bus, ladies hats and in the shop window pull this image together really well.
August 13, 2012
You always have to take care of Redheads!!
August 14, 2012
+Mark Hooper I always take pic. of elderly women gangs from the back. I am afraid:))))))