SPIRITS were high as the Women's Institute's national centenary celebration swept through Winchester.

Women across the country have carried the organisation's centenary baton and the local ladies were determined to do their bit.

Over the past week it has been passed to groups including Alresford, Bishop’s Waltham, Winchester, Sparsholt, Micheldever, The Worthys, Littleton and Harestock, South Wonston, River Park, Oliver’s Battery, Twyford and Hyde.

The Winchester leg started on Thursday with a celebration in Alresford. Branch chairman Gill Graham Maw carried the baton from Basingstoke in a 1979 AA van and was greeted with cheers and clapping.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Alresford WI chairman Gill Graham holds the baton

Around 60 women turned up to mark the milestone and were treated to a performance from Acabella, a choir made up of Perins schoolgirls, before handing the baton to the Bishop’s Waltham branch – dressed as hippies.

The celebrations continued into Winchester city centre on Friday with a torch-lit procession by the Twyford branch down the High Street, where they met the Winchester group at the Guildhall.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Twyford WI's procession down Winchester High Street on Friday

The baton was passed over and mayor, Cllr Eileen Berry, was there to greet them.

On Saturday women took a King Alfred Bus to Sparsholt, where the baton travelled to Littleton and Harestock, The Worthys, South Wonston and Micheldever.

Hampshire Chronicle:

WI volunteers travel on the King Alfred Bus towards Sparsholt

It was then given to the North Downs group who travelled in a vintage fire engine.

Winchester group secretary Pauline Virgo said the atmosphere at the Micheldever coffee morning on Saturday  was “electric” and the organisation continues to inspire women.

Organiser of the Alresford event, Erica Sisk, said: “It’s great fun. The WI is a wonderful voluntary organisation which helps to bring people together socially. It’s marvellous.”

The WI started in 1915 to encourage women to grow and preserve food.

The centenary baton relay started on January 1 in Anglesey, in Wales, where it was founded, and will finish on June 4 at the Royal Albert Hall.