WOMEN’S Institute (WI) members have carried a baton through the North York Moors National Park to mark the start of the organisation’s centenary celebrations.

Freda Shaw and Janice Whiteford, members of the North Yorkshire East WI Federation, were driven with the baton from Helmsley to Whitby by park ranger Naomi Green to reflect the WI’s roles in campaigning on rural and community issues and as a source of friendship.

Mrs Shaw said: “Looking back over the past 100 years the WI is as relevant today as it was then and continues to inspire women through projects such as let’s cook local helping young parents gain skills in cookery and healthy eating, the great food debate looking at food security given an increasing world population, SOS bees and a campaign for more midwives.”

Members of local WI’s met the baton in Whitby for a ride on the town’s charabanc and a celebratory meal at the Whistlestop Café before it travelled to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The baton, which contains a memory stick for members to add their WI memories, started its journey in north Wales and had previously been with the Teesside Federation.

It will stay in the North Yorkshire East area until April 23, when it will be handed over to the North Yorkshire West Federation at Sutton Bank Gliding Club, near Thirsk for the next leg of its journey.