A CELEBRATION was held in Corsham's Springfield Community Campus to mark 100 years of the town's Women's Institute.

Barbara Hewitt of the WI said: "We had our Centenary Birthday Celebrations on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 18, and this particular WI was incepted on June 17, 1919, and Grace Methuen was, we believe, our first president.

"We welcomed our special guest Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Mrs Sarah Troughton, who gave us a speech explaining how she became a Lord-Lieutenant."

Also at the event were members of other branches of the WI including those from Broughton Gifford, Box, Melksham and Neston.

Mrs Hewitt said they were entertained by Angel City 3, with a programme of songs from the shows describing their voices as "absolutely beautiful."

She said: "On behalf of the ladies of Corsham WI, I am very proud to give a a huge thank you to the following businesses who so kindly donated various prizes: The Greenhouse, Wadwick Green, The Methuen Arms, The Deli in Corsham, The Corsham Book Shop, The Toy Shop, The Co-op, Previous, Theodora’s, Mulberry House, and Body & Soul as well as the many private donations made by members of the public."

She said the branch in Corsham were very involved with local events.

"We had a stall making pancakes one year," she said, "Another time the ladies organised a fashion show using Rontos which was a dress shop in Corsham.

"Over the past year we have had various speakers, one lady showed her weaving skills and another talked about Bhutan.

"This year our speaker on July 16, is Steve Herra presenting Cunard and the Glamorous Stars.

"Then we do not meet in August but on September 17, Dr Frances Borough's subject is Desert Island Discs, and on October 15 Mrs Irene Thompson will be talking about the British Legion and everything they do."

The women meet every third Tuesday of every month at the Springfield Campus for a cup of tea and a chat and welcome anyone who would like to join.