Ref. 30757-59MEMBERS of a club for Swindon's business and professional women toasted the 100th birthday of one of their founder members with a cup of tea.

Phyllis Macpherson of Walton Grange, Bath Road, set up the town's Soroptimist Club in 1961 with friends who felt working women were not getting a fair deal.

She was also one of the club's first presidents and remained a member until two years ago.

The birthday tea party took place at the Purton Stoke home of another founder member, retired solicitor Jeanne Perons.

Mrs Macpherson became the town's mayoress in 1944 and was at the side of her husband, Alderman Charles Macpherson, throughout all the celebrations that marked victory at the end of World War Two.