English and Performing Arts pupils were thrilled to welcome Mr Giles Keating , custodian of Athelhampton House to Wey Valley Academy. Mr Keating delivered a talk regarding an innovative new project centred around Hardy's love poetry and his relationships with women. The project involves making Hardy's poetical writing more accessible to the public including YouTube performances of the verse by actors alongside scholars and Hardy specialists discussing his work and extrapolating an eclectic range of nuances and interpretations. 

Hardy was a regular visitor to Athelhampton, starting in his teenage years when he painted a picture of the old house in watercolours, and it was here, in early August 1914, that he heard the news that Britain had declared war on Germany when a telegram was delivered whilst he enjoyed supper with the Victorian owner, Alfred Cart de Lafontaine. Hardy was, of course, an architect, a novelist and a poet and he spanned across time from 1840 until 1928 'a time-torn man'. Mr Keating launched his new book also with the Wey Valley students regarding his relationships with Emma Lavinia Gifford, Florence Henniker, Tryphena Sparks, Eliza Nicholls and Florence Dugdale.

One student asked' is there a paradox in the way that Hardy related to the women in his private life compared to his fiction'. There was a deep interest from the audience and the talk really did arouse the curiosity of the pupils. Mr Chutter, Head of Performing Arts, said 'my thanks to Giles Keating for such an engaging talk and we look forward to developing our partnership further between Athelhampton, The Thomas Hardy Society and Wey Valley Academy,  part of Authentic Education'.