TO DECEMBER 31: ‘Persuasion and War’ exhibition at Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton. Considering the impact of war on Jane Austen’s novels, the life of the Austen family, and on the country at large.
SEPTEMBER 14-29: Café exhibition at the Allen Gallery, Church Street, Alton. Exhibition of pastel paintings by Ron Ewins. Gallery open 10.30am-4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Free entry.
SEPTEMBER 14-29: ‘One Hundred Years from Then and Now’ at the Allen Gallery, Church Street, Alton. An exhibition of paintings by Abi Wicking looking back to the end of the First World War and forward to the situation with endangered species and conservation one hundred years from now. Gallery open 10.30am-4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Free entry.
SEPTEMBER 14-NOVEMBER 30: Wild art exhibition at Gilbert White’s House Museum, Selborne. A collective of four female artists whose styles and methods vary in creating pieces of contemporary art. Exhibits will respond to the words of Gilbert White and the scenic landscape of Selborne. Visit gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk.
SEPTEMBER 14-16: West Meon music festival. Seven concerts over three days, featuring the Primrose Piano Quartet, leading violinist Jonathan Stone, organist Kate Jones, tenor James Gilchrist, former Radio 3 presenter, Paul Guinery, windplayers Harmoniemusik, celtic folk band Head North, and Geoffrey Keating’s Tea Dances. To include an informal children’s concert. Mainly at the Church of St John the Evangelist at West Worldham, but also the Church of Our Lady at Warnford, and The Thomas Lord pub. Tickets from £12. In aid of The Rosemary Foundation. Visit westmeonmusic.co.uk.
SEPTEMBER 14: Alton U3A monthly coffee morning at the Allen Gallery, Church Street, Alton, 10.30am. Non-members welcome.
SEPTEMBER 15: Alton Society litter pick, 10am-noon. Meet outside old post office on Alton High Street. Bring gloves, bags provided.
SEPTEMBER 15: Alton Natural History Society field meeting at Millfield Nature Reserve, Old Basing. Meet 10.30am in car park at Barton’s Mill (SU662532). Pub lunch available. Call Raynor on 01256 862541.
SEPTEMBER 16: Alton Ramblers meet 9am at Alton Health Centre car park for 8.5-mile walk led by Penny C, starting 9.45am from West Meon recreation ground (SU 641242). A circular walk from West Meon. Bring packed lunch, no pub. After the walk there is an optional concert The Lads in their Hundreds, which is part of West Meon Music Festival, at St John the Evangelist, West Meon, 3.30pm. You must get your own ticket for the concert in advance (£18 to include tea and cake plus pre-concert talk) from westmeonmusic.co.uk. Call 01420 23323 or visit altonramblers.org.uk.
SEPTEMBER 17: Alton Choral Society meets 7.45pm at the Salvation Army Hall on the corner of Amery Street. New singers welcome. Join now to take part in autumn and Christmas concerts. Call 01420 85994 or visit altonchoral.org.uk.
SEPTEMBER 18: Alton Ramblers meet 9.20am at Alton Sports Centre car park for six-mile walk led by Stuart and Valerie, starting 10am from Froyle village hall (SU 760441). Circular walk from Froyle village hall. Please park on road, not in hall car park. Call 01420 23323 or visit altonramblers.org.uk.
SEPTEMBER 19: Energy Alton meeting at Alton Community Centre for the screening of the documentary film ’Tomorrow’ (‘Demain’), 7.30pm. A hugely positive and inspirational film, exploring creative local solutions in the fields of food, energy, transport, economics and education. It visits permaculture farms, urban farming projects, local renewable energy projects, creative schools, ambitious recycling projects and more. Awarded prize for best documentary in French Oscars, the film has been a huge boost to community-led initiatives around the world. Free entry, bar available, all welcome. Visit energyalton.org.uk.
SEPTEMBER 20: A31 community wellbeing hub: drop-in 10am-1pm at Chawton Park Surgery, Chawton Park Road, Alton. Open to patients of Chawton Park Surgery, Boundaries Surgery at Four Marks, Alton Health Centre, Bentley Village Surgery, and Watercress Medical at Medstead. Topic ‘Support’, featuring Princess Royal Trust, Dementia Friendly Alton, Stroke Association, and Alzheimer’s Society. Tea and coffee available. Call your GP surgery or visit a31communitywellbeinghub.com.
SEPTEMBER 21: Cycling UK meets 9.30am at Alton Community Centre for an easy-paced 15-mile bike ride via Froyle village hall for refreshments. Bring a spare inner tube and pump, e-bikes welcome. Call Janice on 01420 80783.
SEPTEMBER 21: Alton U3A meet 2pm at Alton Community Centre for talk on ‘Reflections of the Falklands’ by Peter Dennison, company commander of 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment relating first-hand experiences during his time on the Falklands in 1982. Admission £1, all welcome.
SEPTEMBER 28: Macmillan coffee morning at St Mary’s Church Hall, Normandy Street, Alton (next to Alton House Hotel), 10am-11.30am. Tea, coffee and cake. Free parking. All welcome.
*If you have anything you wish to be included in the What’s On column then please send details to the Alton Herald, 13 Market Square, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1HD or email [email protected]. The service is free to clubs and charitable organisations.