WOMEN'S Institute members bid farewell to a centenary baton which has been travelling across Britain.

The Women’s Institute’s centenary baton has been making its way around the country’s 69 Federations since last January to celebrate the organisation’s 100th anniversary.

And On Tuesday, the Oxfordshire Federation handed over the baton to the Buckinghamshire Federation after a week-long tour of Oxfordshire.

WI adviser Ruth Webb gathered with fellow WI members at Grey's Court, near Henley-on-Thames, to see off the baton.

Mrs Webb said: “I think it’s one of the greatest things to celebrate 100 years of the WI.

“It’s done so much in the past and really it needs to be more recognised. I think you are missing out on so much.”

Before the baton left the county, members united at Dorchester Abbey where it was passed hand-to-hand between about 300 women.

The traditional WI hymn Jerusalem was sung and a centenary cake cut.

Mrs Webb, who is a member of the Warborough and Shillingford WI, said: “It was absolutely fantastic. The day was glorious with the weather.

“From the time we got to Dorchester Abbey, it was so welcoming. There were balloons up and there was a whole buzz.”

The Thames Valley group of the WI first received the baton at the village hall in Aston Tirrold, near Didcot, last Tuesday.

Beryl Mann, president of Langford Village WI, was handed the baton on Sunday.

She said: “I think it’s been a tremendous privilege.

"When you think about some of the women in the early days, they had a rough time and they had to fight for education and equality with men.

“I think it’s just a privilege to be part of a centenary celebration. You feel really quite proud.”

The baton will finish its tour on June 4 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Organisers will welcome the Queen and Princess Anne to the event, which will be streamed live online.

Mrs Mann added: “I’m hoping to be at the Royal Albert hall and I think it will be a tremendous occasion.”

The baton arrived in Hook Norton on Saturday on a fire engine.

Crowds welcomed the centenary baton at Hook Norton Brewery, in Brewery Lane, after it had made its way from Spelsbury.

Bea Bates, of the Oxfordshire Federation of Women’s Institutes, took the baton on its journey through north-west Oxfordshire.

She said: "It was beyond my wildest expectations – a real testament to our 100 years.”

From the brewery, the celebratory baton was taken by dray horses Nelson and Major to The Gate Hangs High pub near the village with WI members in tow.

On its route through Oxfordshire, celebrations have seen the baton arrive in Oxford by boat along the Thames, and in Abingdon in a vintage MG.