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Events
The Dickens Fellowship
The Dickens Fellowship is an international organisation which has many branches in the U.K. and all over the world. The Portsmouth Branch is well-established and thriving in this city, having many connections with Charles Dickens, not least the house in which he was born, which has been a museum open to the public for over one hundred years.
If you are interested in the novels and other works of the author, and would like to find out more about his fascinating background and life, there is no better way than joining your local branch of the Fellowship.
Mission Statement
To knit together in a common bond of friendship all lovers of Charles Dickens's writings, and to spread the love of humanity, which is the keynote of all his works.
Portsmouth – the Birth Town of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was born on 7th February, 1812 in a small terraced house, number 1 Mile End Terrace, Landport, and lived there for the first four months of his life, before the family moved on to 16 Hawke Street, Portsea. When the house came up for sale in 1903 Portsmouth Corporation bought it, and opened it on 22nd July 1904 as a museum dedicated to the great author. It was administered in the earlier years by the Libraries & Museums Committee. In 1967 the Birthplace needed to be renovated, and its large collection of Dickens-related books, largely supplied by its first curator, Mr Alfred Seale, was transferred to the Central Library, which at that time was the one behind the Guildhall, and which is now Park Building, owned by the University.
What does the Portsmouth Branch do?
We hold regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each month, with the exception of February, July and August. These are held mainly in St. Luke's Church Hall, Greetham Street, and run from 2.30 to 4.30 p.m. The meetings are well-organised, and sometimes include talks, which are usually on a Dickens-related theme. We also have regular discussion and/or readings concerning our book of the year.
What else do we have to offer?
In addition to the meetings we run a number of other events, including:-
- An Annual Birthday Lecture at John Pound's Church, High Street, Old Portsmouth, on the Saturday before 7th February (Charles Dickens's birthday).
- A wreath-laying ceremony at the Birthplace Museum on the 7th February, in celebration of the birth of Charles Dickens.
- A Birthday Tea on the second Tuesday in February.
- A Church Service at St Alban's Church, Copnor on or near the 4th March to celebrate the Baptism of Charles Dickens.
- An annual outing by coach during the month of May.
- An Evensong Service in St. Mary's Church, followed by refreshments and readings from the works of Dickens in the church hall to commemorate the death of Charles Dickens. This takes place on the Sunday nearest to 9th June.
- Film shows at the Frewen Library, University of Portsmouth, Cambridge Road, mostly the films of Dickens's novels.
- An annual outing by coach during the month of May or June.
Forthcoming meetings and events
Friday 10th August “Barnaby Rudge” at King’s Theatre, 7.30pm
Tuesday 11th September Talk: by Mary Verrier: “A Poor Child in Portsmouth”
Tuesday 9th October Presentations/Readings/Discussion of David Copperfield
Tuesday 13th November Annual General Meeting with Bring & Buy. (Presentations/Readings/Discussion of David Copperfield.
Tuesday 11th December A Dickens Christmas Occasion
Dickens Statue Update
There has had to be one change to the conference. Because the statue is to be more complex than we envisaged, and its casting in bronze will therefore take longer, instead of the unveiling on 13th August, as we wanted, the sculptor, Martin Jennings, will give an illustrated talk: The Challenge of Representing Dickens, which some people believe will, given that he will have finished the full clay original and it will be at the foundry, be even more exciting. (We are of course, still working to raise the money). The new unveiling date is to be confirmed.
What does it all cost?
The Branch charges an annual membership fee to members of only £6. This is exceptionally good value for money, and covers all meetings and communication. Certain events, such as the Annual Coach Outing and the Birthday Tea, carry a separate cost, and members are informed of the ticket prices well in advance.
How do you find out more?
For further details and information, or if you would like to consider joining the Dickens Fellowship, please contact:
Geoffrey Christopher:
Tel: 023 92664205
Prof. Tony Pointon:
Tel: 023 92382241
The Bicentenary Annual Dickens Conference - 9th-14th August 2012
International Dickens Fellowship Bicentenary Conference - 2012
Dickens’s Portsmouth Thursday 9th –Tuesday 14th August
DRAFT Outline Programme (date 20 September 2011)
Conference bed & breakfast rooms are en suite in Portsmouth University’s Rees Hall facing over Southsea Common to the Isle of Wight. It is ¾ miles from Portsmouth and Southsea Station and near Guildhall Square where lectures will largely be held, though evening meals will be in Rees Hall. (The Olympics – arranged to celebrate Dickens’s bicentenary – will be on a Big Screen in the Square.) The City’s Exhibition on Sherlock Holmes (also born in Portsmouth) is a 5-minute walk from Rees Hall.
Thursday afternoon (9th) - registration (and a chance to see the Dickens and Doyle Special Collections in the City Library). Thursday evening - Lord Mayor’s Reception, then a light lecture.
Friday morning (10th) – lectures, lunch followed by tour of Dickens-related sites – see “Dickens Trail” on the website.
Friday evening at the King’s Theatre to see Eileen Norris’s Barnaby Rudge
Saturday morning (11th) - AGM and a Lecture.
Saturday afternoon - parallel events of choice, with people invited to “do their own thing”: talks on special topics, research papers, exhibitions, performances, videos of Dickens films.
Saturday evening - Banquet in the Guildhall.
Sunday morning (12th) - service in St Mary’s Church, successor to the one Dickens was baptised in.
Sunday afternoon - choice of two tours (‘til one is full).
(a) “Jane Austen Tour” – her home at Chawton, her birthplace at Steventon.
(b) “Roman Tour” - Roman Fort longest Roman wall outside Italy, largest Roman Villa.
Sunday evening - in-house entertainment.
Monday morning (13th) - lectures, lunch and talk by Martin Jennings entitled “The Challenge of Representing Charles Dickens”.
Monday afternoon - final Lectures. Monday evening – another Dickens-related play?
Tuesday will be normal departure day, though there will be an optional extra day.
The cost of the full programme, Thursday reception through to Tuesday morning, will be £520. (Payment details - in GB Pounds – see below.)
Double rooms with good-view (25 only) are available on a first come basis, or for special needs.
Please notify dietary/mobility needs.
[There will be an optional Maritime Heritage Day on the Tuesday – HMS Victory, HMS Mary Rose (and its Museum), HMS Warrior (1860) - and seeing-things-you have missed – cost of B&B, transport and tickets is £58 extra.]
Other pre- and post-conference B&B nights in the Hall, @ £37 on request.
Information on part attendance on request.
Contact: Geoffrey Christopher, 39 Northern Parade, Portsmouth, PO2 9PB, England.