HOLYBOURNE Women’s Institute “said it with flowers” to celebrate the 100th birthday of the popular village group last month.

Members met at the gates of Andrews’ Endowed Primary School early in the morning to mark the occasion with children, parents and staff.

A spokesman said: “We had baskets of posies, prepared the previous day, to give out. Each contained a simple message: ‘A gift from Holybourne WI to celebrate 100 years of the WI on September 16’.

“Most of the posies were received with smiles and thanks but a few people looked rather frightened as we approached and hurried into school refusing the flowers. It occurred to us later that they probably thought we were trying to sell them ‘lucky heather’, so apologies to those people who thought we were trying to accost them for money.”

The generous group then moved on to Holybourne village post office to distribute more flowers, and then elsewhere in the village during the morning.

A lunch was organised by Holybourne WI president Jean Johnson at Audleys Wood Hotel and more than 200 Hampshire WI members attended.

There was celebratory Champagne and a meal, rounded off with beautiful cupcakes decorated with ‘100’.

Guests were then entertained with a talk by Ruth Rogers, a talented puppeteer from the play War Horse, and the only female puppeteer to operate the head of Joey, the hero of the film. The celebrations were continued the next day with a meeting in the village hall followed by a special celebration cake.

The spokesman added: “We had a memorable day never to be repeated in our lifetime. What will the celebration be like in 100 years’ time?”