A society will gather to commemorate the birthday of a famous Dorset author in a weekend of activities.

The Thomas Hardy Society will be hosting a Birthday Weekend to honour Thomas Hardy. The author was born in Stinsford just outside of Dorchester in 1840.

On Saturday, June 1 the society will meet at Hardy’s statue at the Top O’Town in Dorchester at 11am. Mark Chutter will give a talk titled ‘Victorian Dorchester and Hardy’. Mr Chutter will give another talk in the Casterbridge Room at the King’s Arms pub on High East Street from 3pm to 4.30pm titled ‘The influence of the Moule family on Thomas Hardy.’

This will be followed by the Birthday Lecture from 3-4:30pm.

At 5pm, the society will lay a wreath at Hardy’s Statue, following by a wreath laying at the statue to Dorset dialect poet, William Barnes.

The society will then return to the King’s Arms for poetry and prose readings from Hardy by members.  

Following this, there will be a three-course meal at the King’s Arms. Booking is essential and seats can be secured by phoning 01305 238238.

At 10am on Sunday, June 2 there will be a service at St Michael’s Church in Stinsford on Church Lane.

Tickets for the birthday lecture are £10 and can be purchased online from https://shorturl.at/4Hio3

For more information on the events, and to find out more about the society, visit www.hardysociety.org