LONGNIDDRY Scottish Women’s Institute has celebrated reaching its centenary with a special exhibition on its history, including paying tribute to its suffragette founder.

The group mounted an exhibition in the village community centre entitled ‘100 Years of Change’ to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s first ‘Rural’ by Catherine Blair, a farmer’s wife and a suffragette, who lived at nearby Hoprig Mains.

The exhibition had examples of change in every aspect of life, from farm implements, kitchen equipment, cooking and communication to underwear and clothes through the decades.

Many photographs, postcards, and some paintings showed the changes in East Lothian towns and villages, especially Longniddry.

There was a photograph of the 37 founder members and also one, recently taken, of the present 37 members.

There were examples of various handcrafts such as gold threadwork, embroidery, crochet, knitting and photography, all executed by members past and present.

Ladies who hold office in the Federation of all the East Lothian Institutes were also present, displaying treasures worked by other ‘Rurals’ and giving information about the institutes when asked.

The exhibition proved to be a great success and was visited by more than 200 people from places as far as Angus, Fife, West Lothian, Berwickshire, Northumberland and even Peterborough.

A few more local ladies who visited the exhibition expressed an interest in joining when meetings start again in September, the second Wednesday of every month.

On the actual centenary, on June 26, members hosted a dinner at Gosford House, by kind permission of the Earl of Wemyss.

Guests were welcomed by president Vi Wardrop and honorary presidents Bella Porteous and Rita Meikle cut the cake made by member Elizabeth Young.

Linda Retson, chairwoman, who proposed the toast to Longniddry SWI, and past chairman Christine Hutton, of Scottish Women’s Institute Headquarters, were guests along with Major Michael Williams, Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian, who said Grace.

The Longnidddry institutute also welcomed Miaread Leyland, granddaughter of Catherine Blair, who had travelled from the south of England, accompanied by her daughterAlison Sanderson and two other great-granddaughters, Catriona McDougall and Maired Blair, who are both members of a recently formed institute in Leith.

Mrs Leyland presented the trophies to the monthly competition winners, who were first Elizabeth Neil, second Sheila Henderson and third Jacky Hunter. Treasurer Jessie Thomson replied and vice-president Katie Wood gave the vote of thanks.