BERE Ferrers Women's Institute 50th anniversary celebrations begin with the group hosting the Annual Four Rivers Group meeting, not in the Bere Ferrers Church Hall as usual, but with a birthday party cruise on the Tamar.

The group consists of the six local WIs: High Moorland, Whitchurch, Mary Tavy, Tavistock, Gulworthy and Bere Ferrers.

Seventy-five women, all WI members from the group, will enjoy a river cruise to Calstock and back, leaving the Barbican, Plymouth this Saturday at 4.30pm and arriving at Calstock at 6.30pm approximately.

Celebrations will include a huge birthday cake, buffet and raffle.

Each WI has a team sewing a large, colourful pennant, reflecting their area and activities. These will be flown during the celebration.

Future 50th anniversary celebrations include an outing to Premier Foods at Lifton — the very first outing made by the newly formed Bere Ferrers WI 50 years ago was to the Ambrosia factory and there is a photograph to prove it! On July 12 they are repeating the event to have another picture taken.

On October 12, the nearest Sunday to the date of the very first meeting of the Bere Ferrers WI, there will be a service in St Andrew's Church, celebrating women and their contribution to the community, led by Sheila Gay. This will be followed by a bring and share lunch for all WI members, their family and friends.

At the lunch the WI will launch its 50th anniversary book. Each member has found a photograph of themselves and written a few words about their life in 1960, the year this WI started. What results is an extraordinary memoir of the period and some fascinating revelations about what 38 women were doing 50 years ago.