The Thomas Hardy Fellowship
2003 saw the inauguration of a new body for true enthusiasts of Dorset’s
greatest writer - the Thomas Hardy Fellowship. The Fellowship was the inspired
idea of Fred Hoskins OBE, keenly supported by several other Hardyan colleagues,
who saw a very real need for an alternative forum for keen Hardy readers
to meet cordially in a shared love of Thomas Hardy, his literary works in
prose and verse, and his landscapes.
The Fellowship is not in competition with the Thomas Hardy Society, but rather is complementary to it; and indeed, many Hardy enthusiasts will wish to belong to both organizations.
The Fellowship has succeeded in its modest objectives of celebrating the life, works and times of Thomas Hardy and interpreting the people and places associated with him and his writings, in a spirit of shared friendship, democracy and informality. The annual programme of events is arranged after consultation with as many members as possible.
The Fellowship does not as yet have a formal committee structure, beyond having an Hon. Organizer/Newsletter Editor, John Pentney and an Hon. Treasurer, Stephen Mottram.
In return for a very modest annual subscription of £5 (UK), members are able to attend Fellowship meetings held most months and receive a quarterly Newsletter, produced in-house by the Editor. Membership has continued to grow at a manageable pace, without the need for advertising.