THE ladies of a Hampshire village have marked the centenary of their organisation in style.

The women celebrated the unveiling of a stained glass window to mark the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Institute (WI).

More than 50 women joined the Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Angela Clear, for a commemorative coffee morning in Colden Common.

Artist Pat Philips was among those recognised on a new brass plaque in the Church Rooms marking the centenary.

Cllr Clear and WI members were joined by county chairman Maureen Levenson.

Also at the event was Holy Trinity Church vicar Rev Jonah Watts and trustees of the Pam Toneri Bursary, who gave grants to the group.

It wouldn’t have been a WI meeting without tea and biscuits.

But The ladies also enjoyed a bring-and-buy stall, raffle and a competition to guess the calories of a cake.

Proceeds are set to go to three hospices chosen as the Mayor’s charities.

The organisations to benefit will be Countess Mountbatten, Rowan’s Hospice and Naomi House & Jacksplace at Sutton Svotney, near Winchester.

It is the latest event in Hampshire to mark the centenary of Women’s Institutes.

The event comes after a nationwide baton relay which passed through the county in January.

Around 200 WI branches have opened in Hampshire since Britain’s first was formed in Anglesey, North Wales, in 1915.

Colden Common WI enjoys regular rambles, speeches, demonstrations, craft and knitting sessions, quizzes and charity events.

They also keep a bee hive, regularly visit the theatre and organise stalls at the village fete.

They often raise money for charities including Macmillan Nurses Andean Medical Mission, the Alzheimer’s Society and Associated Country Women of the World.