Lucky auctionbidder 3rd April 2010 Sue King gained chance to have a cry written and performed by Dorchester town crier Alsitair Chisholm for her daughters Becky and Sam. The cry was delivered in a surprise visit to the King household on Becky's 21st birthday. Becky and Sam were delighted by Alsitair's personal touch.
Tea with Norrie 1st April 2010 Six students from Exeter University had tea with Norrie. Inbetween lashings of tea, buscuits and dorset apple cake the students learnt about how it was to be a child and a young women at the start of the 20th century. Norrie also told them about her memories of Hardy and the Hardy Players.
18th March 2010. Thanks to a last minute donation all of the money needed to purchase the Hardy manuscripts has been raised.
Dr Jon Murden, Dorset County Museum Director sends his sincere thanks to all of the New Hardy Players for their part in making this possible. Jon is delighted at the support shown for the Hardy Manuscripts Fund from right across the community.The deadline to have raised the full amount was April 17th 2010
The collection of unique Hardy scripts, play scripts and stage set models was collected by (Thomas) Harry Tilley of the original Hardy Players. The scripts date from 1908 -1924, some have hand written production notes. The collection includes transcripts of twelve Hardy novels and short stories.
The New Hardy Players presented a special evening to help raise some of the £50,000 needed.Hardy's Night - Chapter and Verse included an auction and took place on Friday 12th March at the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester. The event raised a massive £2,500 which brought the total to within £2000 of the £50,000 needed to purchase the collection.
Norrie Woodhall, 104, the last surviving original Hardy Player perfomed to an entranced audience. Norrie made some new friends amongst students from Exeter University who made a special journey to attend. Their auction bid to have tea with Norrie was successful, and their generosity has created a very important link across generations. Norrie's entrancing performance of "The Voice" was an inspiration, and a poignant reminder that we should treasure everything left for us by those we have lost.
A unique filmed interview staged in Hardy's Study at the museum was shown. Julian Fellowes talked to Norrie Woodhall about her memories of Thomas Hardy and the original Hardy Players. Proceeds from the sale of the DVD went to the Hardy Manuscripts Fund.
Thank to all who supported the Hardy Manuscripts Fund
