As a national heroine, she could have had a state funeral.

But when Florence Nightingale died 100 years ago her family respected her wishes and arranged for her body to be brought to Romsey from London by a special train, so she could be buried in the family vault.

Now The Lady with the Lamp’s last journey has been recreated by members of Romsey Chamber of Commerce.

Noble and Majestic, two magnificent Belgian Black horses, supplied by Romsey undertaker Roger D Drury, pulled the hearse, which carried a simple cross-shaped floral tribute.

Riding behind the driver were the chamber’s vice-president Debbie Allen and secretary, Kathryn Masterman, in period mourning dress.

“We are doing this on behalf of local businesses out of respect for a great local figure and to honour her,” said Debbie.

The hearse followed the route that Florence’s funeral cortege took on August 20, 1910, stopping briefly at the family home Embley Park, now Hampshire Collegiate School, before heading to St Margaret’s Church, Wellow, to lay the wreath at the grave of the famous nurse.

In 1910 Romsey greeted its most famous daughter with flags at half-mast. Businesses shut and people lined the route to see her last journey.

An eyewitness, Mrs C Underwood, said at the time: “My friend and I went to the station and saw the coffin. Over it was spread her shawl and, placed on it, her bonnet and her lamp.

“Accompanying it were some guardsmen. My friend had a bicycle and I got on behind her.

“We got to Wellow as quickly as we could to see her grave and all the beautiful flowers.”