Poise, elegance and sychronisation - those were always the aims of these energetic women.

Wendy Sherlock, Verity McAvoy, Penny Keates and Pat Rogers were all members of the Oxford Women's League of Health and Beauty.

They were pictured in perfect pose in 1975 after returning from the Royal Albert Hall in London, where they had taken part in the League's 35th anniversary celebration.

Hundreds of girls and women aged from 2 to 81 from all over Britain and overseas were seen walking gracefully, swinging clubs and moving harmoniously.

The Oxford Mail reported: "It was a moving occasion. The whole audience, with the hall packed to the doors, rose spontaneously to sing Auld Lang Syne when it was over."

Mrs McAvoy, of Southmoor, Oxford's graceful walker' representative, told the Mail that an "upright carriage" was important whether you were walking, typing, cycling or shopping, and had a bearing on your image as an honourable and trustworthy person.

Mrs Sherlock, of Garsington, who joined the League at the age of 12, said: "I have no idea what shape I would be without it."

Mrs Keates, of Witney, had become a member to keep herself fit because, as a PE teacher, "you find yourself standing on the sideline with a whistle".

Mrs Rogers, of Botley, a fitness teacher, said exercises brought not only fitness benefits, but a unique camaraderie among women.

The Women's League - now known as the Fitness League - was founded by Mollie Bagot Stack.

Living in Manchester, she had seen how women working in the mills benefited from systematic exercise to invigorate them after a hard day.

The formation of the League sparked the first fitness craze in Britain. During the First World War, the Government had been shocked by the high number of unfit military recruits.

By the Second World War, thanks partly to Mrs Bagot Stack, the country had been transformed from a nation of weaklings into one with an obsession for public health. She promoted her philosophy of exercise structured and graded to the needs of all ages and abilities, supervised by qualified trainers.

She organised public displays - the first, in Hyde Park in London, drew 160,000 people.

Any memories of the Women's Health and Beauty League? And where are the four women above now?

11:44am Tuesday 4th March 2008

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