Hardy's Birthday Weekend Celebrations - Satires of Circumstance

Hardy's Birthday Celebration Weekend - Satires of Circumstance

Saturday 1st June - Sunday 2nd June

Saturday 1st June 10.30 am: A Mellstock Poems Walk Led by Tony Fincham.
Meet at Thorncombe Wood Car Park (NGR SY724922) for a gentle four mile walk through the heart of Hardy Country from the lonely barton by yonder coomb over the eweleaze to Knapwater House and on to Stinsford Church, returning via Lower Mellstock and across Egdon Heath, via Rushy Pond to finish at Hardys Cottage. Lunch will be available afterwards at the Visitor Centre. Frequent pauses en route to read poems, at the places which inspired them.

4.30 pm: The Birthday Lecture Dr Faysal Mikdadi: Hardy in Translation.
The Town Hall, High East Street, Dorchester. Dr Mikdadi is the new Academic Director of the Hardy Society. Members 5 (Non-members 6)
6.00 pm: Buffet Supper at The Town Hall. Members 8 (Non-members 10).
7.00 pm: Satires of Circumstance: Tatterdemalion will perform favourite poems from Satires of Circumstance, interspersedwith additional musicto enhance and complement the readings. Tatterdemalion, an integral part of the New Hardy Players, are a popular local ceilidh band, playing their arrangements of traditional dance tunes selected from the Hardy family and Benjamin Rose tune-books. Members 8 (Non-members 10).

Sunday 2nd June 179th Anniversary of Hardys Birth
10.00 am: Morning Service at St Michaels Church, Stinsford. Preacher: Revd. Pene Kennedy; followed by a wreath-laying at Hardys grave.
11.30 am: Walk from Stinsford to Dorchester. Led by Mrs Helen Lange; in Dorchester both High East Street & High West Street will be closed to motor vehicles for a Thomas Hardy Country Fair.
1.00 pm: Wreath-laying ceremony at Hardys Statue at Top-o-Town; followed by one at William Barnes statue.

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Dates for your Diary

From 14/09/2024 until 01/08/2026
Starts 09:00 until 18:00

10th DORCHESTER LITERARY FESTIVAL

From 12/10/2024 until 19/10/2024
Starts 12:00 until 19:30

MARK CHUTTER A LITERARY WALK – WESSEX WRITERS

On 13/10/2024
Starts 12:00 until 14:00

Alan Hollinghurst

On 16/10/2024
Starts 18:00 until 21:00