Upcoming Events

• 2013: Waterson Manor

  Garden Open Day - Sunday 23 June, 10am - 5pm

  

• 2013: Birthday Weekend

  Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd June 2013:
  The Birthday Weekend

  Saturday 1st June:
  10.30 am Walk meet at Thorncombe Wood Car Park (NGR SY 726921) for a 5-mile walk through Hardy’s Heartland led by Derek Pride (born & bred in Lower Mellstock) – novels, short stories and a sprinkling of poetry.
  
  3.30 pm Birthday Lecture by Dr Alan Chedzoy.
  ‘The Great Literary Puzzle: Thomas Hardy's Problem with Robert Browning’
  Council Chamber, County Hall
  Tickets: £6 (members £5)
  
  4.45pm Tea in the Members Room at County Hall
  
  5 30pm Hardy’s Statue - A selection of Hardy readings from the New Hardy Players followed by a wreath-laying ceremony led by the Mayor of Dorchester and Alan Chedzoy; thence to St Peter’s where a wreath will be laid at William Barnes statue.
  
  6 00pm Buffet supper at Dorset County Museum (catering by Panini’s Dorchester) Tickets £12 (members £10)
  
  7 00pm for 7 30pm ‘A Dorset Musical Celebration’ with Tim Laycock and The Mellstock Band.
  Music celebrating Thomas Hardy’s birthday; music he would have loved.
  Tickets £10  (£8 for THS members).
  
  Sunday 2nd June:
  9.45 am walk: Meet at The Town Pump in Dorchester (top end)
  
  11.15 am St Michael’s Church, Stinsford: Morning Service, followed by wreath-laying on Hardy’s grave.  
  Preacher: Revd John Walker.
  Following the wreath-laying Sue Clarke will lead a walk to Kingston Maurward for refreshment and thence on to Max Gate and ultimately back to Dorchester.
  
  Friday 7th June:
  7.30 pm Barn Dance at Dorchester Corn Exchange.
  Dance to one of Dorset’s best bands –‘The Black Sheep’
  Until 11.00 pm. Tickets £10. Bar available.

  Part of the Hardy Country initiative.

• 2013: Poetry and the Wessex Downs

  Saturday 15th June 2013:
  Poetry and the Wessex Downs

  10.00 am Meet outside the King’s Arms, Portesham  (NGR SY 603857) for a 5-mile circular walk lead by Rebecca Welshman, taking in Admiral Hardy's Monument on Black Down, the archaeological landscapes of the South Dorset Ridgeway, and returning to the King’s Arms for tea in the afternoon.

  Walkers are welcome to bring along poems to read which are connected in some way with Wessex - whether written by Hardy, or other authors, or self-penned. Bring picnic lunch. Lunch stop will be at Hardy's Monument and viewpoint.

  Part of the Alternative Thomas Hardy Festival