Madding crowd set for Hardy’s fest

Step back in time this summer and experience Thomas Hardy’s Casterbridge when Dorchester remembers its Victorian past and celebrates the life and times of the famous writer.

Organisers say the Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair, from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, June 4 will be a ‘fun and inspiring day out for all the family’. High East Street and High West Street will be closed to traffic for a more authentic experience.

Visitors are encouraged to dress up for the occasion and join the Ragged Victorians outside Shire Hall to see Penny Farthing displays, Punch and Judy shows, steam engines, and all things Victoriana, as well as enjoy live music, performances, and dancing in the street.

Dorchester’s exuberant town crier Alistair Chisholm will announce the day’s events as they happen, including the annual wreath-laying procession to Thomas Hardy’s statue, accompanied by the delightful sound of St Peter’s Church bells. Other family-friendly activities include storytelling and traditional craft displays in the Victorian Hall at Dorset Museum, with classical music

LAURELS FOR HARDY: Dorchester will be hosting a Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair on June 4 sessions in the Corn Exchange. The Nothe Fort Garrison will be at Keep Military Museum and there will be talks and tours of the stunning Victorian architecture.

THVF Chair, Cllr Gareth Jones said “This fun, cultural event takes a light-hearted approach to Thomas Hardy, where the whole town can come together and take ownership of their famous resident. It’s a great opportunity to look back and enjoy Dorchester’s splendid Victorian heritage.”

The event has been funded by Kingston Maurward College, Sculptures by the Lake and Dorset Hideaways, Dorchester Town Council, Thomas Hardy Society and other local sponsors.

Thursday, May 11

A plant sale will be held at 8 Grosvenor Road, Dorchester, DT1 2BB from 10am-3pm in aid of The Children’s Society. Donations of plants welcomed.

Sherborne and District Gardeners’ Association meet at the Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne. A short AGM will be followed by a talk on alpines in troughs by Richard Horwood. Details from Richard 01935 389375.

Bridport History Society meets at 2.15pm for 2.30pm at the United Church Hall, East St. Brian Bates will speak on German prisoners of war in Dorchester during WW1. All welcome, visitors £4. Contact Jane on 01308 425710 or email jferentzi@aol.com

Chard History Group will be hearing about Jurassic coast fossils by Nigel Clark at the

Phoenix Chard at 7.30pm. Visitors £3.50, Members £2.50, Membership £5 per year. Contact Chris on 07914 079067.

Vinyl Van in Brewery Square is celebrating the Joy of the Decks at 7.30pm. Join the fun and play 3 tunes of your choice. Bring refreshments. Vinyl Van sells a wide range of new and used records, covering a variety of genres from reggae, hip hop, soul, funk, electronic, jazz, blues, ska, rock and pop.

Saturday,

May 13

St Swithun's in Allington, Bridport, DT6 5DU is holding a car boot sale 11am1pm. To book a space or have a stall (£12 per car), ring or text: 07887 483228.

Longburton Garden Club's plant sale will be held at St James Church (DT9 5PF) 10.30am to noon.

Plant stalls, garden pots, cake stall, cards, raffle and refreshments. Free admission.

A jumble sale is being held in Martinstown Village Hall at 2pm in aid of West Dorset Mencap and The Living Tree.

The New Elizabethan Singers May concert in St Mary’s Church, Bridport at 7pm features two major 18th century works, one wellknown, the other a covid lockdown discovery by NES musical director Matt Kingston. Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum was written to praise God for the safe return of King George II after leading his forces at the Battle of Dettingen. The choir will be joined by soloists from Royal Holloway and a full orchestra. Tickets £15, under 18s free from Goadsby Bridport or ticketsource.co.uk/nes

A whist drive is held every Saturday, 7.30pm, at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Lysander Road, Yeovil, BA20 2BU. Just turn up, or call Nigel on 01935 862325 for more details.

United Diversity Bridport presents: Best of Bridport, 7pm-12.30am, at The Lyric 9 Barrack St, Bridport DT6 3LX, with Live music (The Skalatans, Eve Appleton Band, Look Around Corners, Aidan Simpson), Spoken word (Ged Duncan, Kevan Manwaring, Angie Porter, Dylan Ross) and DJ Beat

Safari. Proceeds towards our plan for cheap regular bus between Bridport & West Bay. Tickets ud.coop/bestofbridport

A folk workshop will be held at Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL 1.30pm-4.30pm, £15 on the door or cheaper in advance at sherbornefolkband.org info@sherbornefolkband.org

Julia: 07527 508 277 Workshops are led by Julia Catovsky or a guest musician, who will teach tunes and harmonies by ear. Suitable for all levels and acoustic instruments. Sheet music and audio supplied in advance.

Salway Ash village cream teas at Strongate Farm, Salway Ash, DT6 5JD. 2pm5pm, Delicious home made scones and cakes plant stall and raffle, all very welcome. Contact Tessa 07792 609617.

A Steam and Waterwheel

Open Day will be held at Sherborne Steam and Waterwheel Centre (DT9 3RX) 11.30am to 3.30pm. The volunteer-run site will have the waterwheel and Hindley steam engine in operation, with audio-visual presentations, displays of machinery and many items of local and historic interest. There is a tea room and picnic tables, toilet and free parking

Whasson? (and where’s it to?)

on the adjacent Oborne road. Entry is by donation.

The Dorchester Vegan Market is being held at Maumbury Rings 10am-4pm. Entry is free. More than 50 stalls of 100% vegan products.

A cathedral-style service of choral eucharist will be held at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Harris’s Holy is the true light, Mozart Missa Brevis in G major K140 and Laudate Dominum from Mozart’s Vespers K339. All welcome to the service and for refreshments afterwards. Then at 11.45am there will be a recital of organ music given by William Bishop, current organ scholar of Tewkesbury Abbey and Dean Close School. Includes music by Bach, Bruhns and

Mendelssohn. Free admission, including coffee and cake.

The Hardy Half Marathon will raise money for local good causes, starting at Dorchester rugby club at 8am for registration (£25-27). Running through a landscape immortalised by the famous writer, the inaugural Hardy Half will be a trail race across farmland. The weekend will include family events and activities. More info at hardyhalf.com

Dorchester’s biggest jumble trail is back, in the roads around Monmouth Road from 10am. Residents selling everything from clothes to cakes, books to toys, plants to cars! Go find something you didn’t know you needed…

The Poundbury Independent

Market is back from 10am4pm, bringing together the most amazing Dorset makers, bakers, crafters and artists with 70+ stalls in three gorgeous locations across Poundbury from 10am. Championing local, small, and independent.

Monday, May 15

Wessex Morris Men continue Paul's Tour at Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil, BA20 2RG at 7.30pm, Jack the Treacle Eater, Yeovil, BA22 9TD at 8.15pm and, exhaustingly, The Royal Oak, Stoford, BA22 9UD at 9pm.

Newlyn Artists: A Cornish community of painters, a sixweek art course at the United Hall in Bridport from 2pm3.30pm.

Newlyn, a small fishing port about a mile and a half from