ONE hundred years of Women's Institutes is being celebrated in the Cotswolds this week as a specially commissioned baton wends it way around the country in recognition of the movement.

Planned with military precision, the baton is being transported from each town and village by an array of vehicular modes and is passed on at each stage to a WI representative.

On Thursday, Moreton fire station provided a fire engine to bring Moreton Evening WI president Jan Williams and the baton to Blockley. Once there, Blockley WI president Meriel Swain commissioned former president Sheila Weir to carry it to Ebrington in a Royal Enfield motorcycle and Watsonian sidecar driven by Ben Matthews. The vehicle had been loaned by the Blockley company which makes the sidecars.

From Ebrington it was due to travel onwards to Chipping Campden.

Prior to the baton relay, members of Blockley WI and the village community shop watched Mrs Weir cut a celebratory cake which had been made and decorated by village shop cook and cake maker Corrin Green.

"It was a thrill to be asked to take the baton. It was my first experience of travelling in a motorcycle and sidecar," said Mrs Weir.

The National Federation of Women's Institutes was founded in 1915 in recognition of the part women played in the war effort.

Blockley WI was founded in 1924 and celebrated its 90th anniversary last year. It has almost 40 members.