OLD Basing Women's Institute (WI) finally unveiled its Centenary Tree earlier this month, after the celebrations were previously disrupted by bad weather and the coronavirus pandemic.

The unveiling took place at the Old Basing Recreation Ground and the tree, a native disease-resistant elm which was planted at the end of 2019, was chosen because historically there were elm trees at the Recreation Ground, before disease devastated them.

The Women's Institute is a community-based organisation for women, with groups across the UK and world, dating back to 1897.

The Old Basing WI was formed in 1919 and is one of the oldest WI groups in Hampshire.

Its founding member, Mrs Madocks, was a widow from the first World War and her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Henry John Madocks, is commemorated on the Old Basing War Memorial.

The group's outgoing President, Chris Hall, and current President, Sue Stewart, cut the ceremonial ribbon at the long-awaited unveiling, watched at a distance by WI members.

A spokesperson for the group said: "The WI is grateful to both the Old Basing Carnival Committee and the Old Basing and Lychpit Parish Council for financial assistance towards the purchase of the tree and commemoration plaque.

"Thanks also to Julie Shepherd from Tesco for providing scones, jam and cream on the day, to complement her most interesting talk on the measures that Tesco have implemented to help the Community during the COVID19 crisis."