The 31st May 2026 saw another Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair held in Dorchester. In a change from previous events the main venue for the music, displays and stallholders was South Street. Our reporter Peter Foster attended the event and recorded a number of audio diaries which you can hear below including some audio recorded by Andy Worth from KeeP 106.
The opening ceremony begins with an introduction from the Chair of the Thomas Hardy Society, Mark Chutter, followed by words from the Mayor of Dorchester, Les Fry, and then a recitation of a work, in local dialect, by William Barnes expert by Brian Caddy.
Pete chats to Andy Worth, also a past Chair of the New Hardy Players, Richard Smith from the Wessex Military Band, a penny farthing rider by the name of Alberto and the new Mayor and Mayoress of Dorchester, Les and Julia Fry.
The sequence ends with a delightful tune from Tatterdemalion, the band of the New Hardy Players.
Photos below with thanks to Heather Foster
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Photos below with thanks to Helen & Stephen Jones of Dorsetbays
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