HUNDREDS of women filled Christ Church Cathedral for the belated 90 year celebration of the Women’s Institute (WI) in Oxfordshire.

Ninety of the 145 Oxfordshire WI divisions were represented at a special ceremony held in the cathedral, in St Aldate’s, which was originally scheduled for February.

About 850 women marched outside in the quad with their banners, large textile creations made by the founding members of each division.

Penny Noble, a member of the Oxfordshire WI Federation who helped organise the event, described it as an emotional day.

She said: “The banners were carried by either the eldest members or presidents of each group, so when they all came in it was a real lump in the throat moment. Everyone felt incredibly proud.”

The celebration had been scheduled for February 6, but snowfall forced organisers to cancel the event.

Sue Cox, a trustee of the Oxfordshire Federation of Women’s Institutes, and a member of the Waterstock and Tiddington WI, said: “Each group has pictures on their banners which best represent their village or area.

“For example ours has a black Labrador on it, which used to belong to the founding member of our WI, Audrey Ashurst.

“Apparently, he would sit under the table very quietly during meetings, but became a very valued member.”

Doris Wood, 90, from Tiddington, has been a member of Waterstock and Tiddington WI, for 66 years. She said: “The WI has really developed since those days, but it has still got the same aims — to give women a better and fuller life.

“I’ve got some very fond memories of my time with the WI. I can remember going to a big meeting and voting for the Denman College to be given the go ahead all those years ago.”

The Denman College, in Marcham, which opened in 1948, is the national WI’s own Residential Adult Education College and was named after the first NFWI Chairman, Lady Denman.

Mrs Wood’s daughters, Sue Ilbery, 62, and Joan Wood, 66, followed her into the organisation and are both now presidents of their own groups.

Mrs Ilbery, president of the Chalgrove WI, said the institute welcomed the recent PR drive to attract younger members.

She said: “People do come along to learn the more traditional skills, but it’s not all about Jam and Jerusalem.

“Everything has to go along with the times otherwise it will die.”

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk