HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE H0038 4/14/00 "GREETINGS FROM DORCHESTER". ===================================================== From: "helen.gibson" Subject: Greetings from Dorchester! Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 14:39:45 +0100 Dear All, Ê THE THOMAS HARDY SOCIETY MILLENNIUM YOUTH PROJECT Ê I thought you might be interested in what has been happening recently in Dorchester. Ê On Thursday, 6th April, a 'Thomas Hardy Day' was held in the Corn Exchange/Town Hall building in Dorchester.ÊÊ This was the culmination of months of work by teachers and children in the 14-18 age group at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester.ÊÊÊ It was, I think, one of the most exciting days with which the Hardy Society has been associated.ÊÊ Over 100 students participated, enjoying seminars and workshops in music, drama, dance, poetry, musical compositionÊ -Ê the building was alive with creativity.ÊÊ In the evening there was a presentation of the students' interpretations of Hardy's work, including a haunting rendering of 'When I Set Out for Lyonnesse'. Ê Prior to this final day over 300 students had entered a short story competition, following work on Hardy's short story 'A Changed Man':Ê a writer-in-residence had led workshops on poetry, drama and creative writing.ÊÊ The project was master-minded by Patrick Tolfree of the Hardy Society, who organised a grant from the Millennium Festival Awards for All. Ê There will be a full report in the May issue of The Thomas Hardy Journal, but I felt you might like to know that Thomas Hardy is still the inspiration for exceptional achievement in the arts in Dorchester, and a new generation is engaging in this. Ê Hope to see many of you at the Conference. Ê Best wishes,ÊÊÊÊÊ Helen Gibson. Ê PSÊ Yes, it is Thomas HardyE School - after a local worthy of an earlier century - nothing known about his poetry, though! Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê ========== Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 10:17:15 -0400 From: Rosemarie Morgan Subject: Re: Greetings from Dorchester! CONGRATULATIONS to THE THOMAS HARDY SOCIETY MILLENNIUM YOUTH PROJECT and the Dorchester Hardye School. This sounds like a magnificent event and one which would have thrilled Hardy himself. I'm sure the children will remember this "Hardy" day with the utmost pleasure and satisfaction. I'm just sorry to have misssed it myself! Cheers, Rosemarie Morgan ==========