A LOCAL Women’s Institute is hoping to ‘bring a little joy and happiness’ to the community with a vibrant springtime display at a village cross monument.

Members of Aylburton W.I have been busy decorating the village cross with an array of flowers, flags, spring items and effigies, to welcome in the new season and spread positivity amongst the local community and passers by.

Seated on a bench at the cross is ‘Aunty Bessie’, a regular member of the group’s springtime celebrations, who is accompanied this year by her pet sheep.

The display was made by a group of ‘very talented’ W.I members who knit and crochet, as well as others who used a variety of crafting ideas to decorate the monument.

Members’ husbands also chipped in to help the group create the display which will remain at the cross for the next few weeks.

The display is not the first that the group have created at the cross in the last year, with members having ‘yarn bombed’ the monument in July and decorated it with knitted and crocheted poppies for Remembrance Day in November.

Sandra Rickards, Secutary to Aylburton W.I, said: “Our aim is to bring a little joy and happiness, and most of all a smile to everyone passing by.

“If we can achieve this then we know it was all worth the effort.

“Come along and take a peek, it will remain there for a few weeks for all to enjoy.”

In the last year, the group have come up with lots of innovative ways to keep themselves busy during lockdown, including writing a collaborative romance and mystery novel which they published last month under the title ‘High Teas and Rough Seas’.

Members each penned a chapter of the novel, which is based on a character called Carrie who swaps her ‘stressful’ life in the city for a new life by the sea.

Group member Denise Voyce explained: “During lockown last year, some of our members decided to write a novel with each participant writing a chapter each.

“This has helped our ladies tremendously with coping through lockdown with having something to focus on.

“We have a completed book of 14 chapters titled ‘High Teas & Rough Seas’ and it has now been printed and nearly three-quarters of our initial stock has been sold at £5 per copy with proceeds going to local charities.

“The feedback from people who have bought the book has been fantastic and we are very proud of what we have achieved.

“Not only have we written it but a photo taken by one of our members appears on the cover.

“We are not aware of any other WIs that have written a novel in this way.”

Anyone wanting to buy a copy of the book can contact Sandra on 01594 841041.