Alton Operatic & Dramatic Society - by Jean Gebbett

If you go to Alton Assembly Rooms
Early March each year,
Or happen to be passing by
In June or November

You’ll hear such wonderful music
You’’ll see such wonderful sights
You’ll smile or shed  a tear
So visit them one night

In March you’ll see a musical
The whole thing will astound you
November play so very fine
With acting to enslave you

But June’s super variety show
Will perhaps suit you best
Songs, dances, sketches all aglow
With AODS’ very finest

What would Alton be
I often ask myself
Without this fabulous talent
So go and spoil yourself

Comments posted on the Facebook Page

Penny Webster-Brown  'I love Anstey Park, a beautiful and relatively unspoilt part of Alton.'

Katen Patel  'Alton is a great place for everyone. What makes Alton unique is that it caters for everyone, whether Young or Old, Black or White.
The many organisations and facilities in the town provide great social, educational and employment opportunities for everyone.
The strong community spirit, the people, the facilities, the open spaces, and more... makes Alton what it is today!'

Becky Willis  'I used to love walking along the derelict, deserted railway line when I was growing up in Alton 20-30 years ago. These days it's hard to imagine Alton without the clouds of steam puffing up behind the trees every now and then, on their way to Alresford'.

Justine Jenkins  'I like the park -lovely beautiful place for a picnic while children play'

Alton Town Crier 'A nice friendly place with a grin on your face'

Yes I know that I’m awfully loud

But to be your Town Crier I’m proud

As I walk the street, all the town at my feet

My word! you’re a wonderful crowd.

We are fortunate living in Alton

In the country, a nice market town;

When tourists I meet say they love it

I think that’s a beautiful sound.

Since I’ve been Town Crier, and travelled

To other towns, some far away,

I take with me your warmth and welcome

And tell them, come visit someday.

So help us keep our town lively

With good manners, smiles, and good cheer;

A nice friendly place with a grin on your face,

To make people wish they were here.

                                                 Stan Witcher

Text Messages from Altonians

‘I spent a lot of time at Treloar’s Hospital. What a lovely place it was! Sad its now gone.  I was born at 16 Church Street, went to St Lawrence Infant School, then Amery and went to St Lawrence Church - all four places are still there. I’m now 68 and still have good memories.Betty Cox.’

‘As a young boy I went hop-picking with my Mum and Sister. Alton is a great place to live. Micheal Cox, Altonian.’

‘When I was a young teenager I loved going to the A.B.C. Dances. I always felt safe. Angela Cox, Altonian’

‘I started school at Anstey and met some good friends who I am still in contact with. I met my husband in Alton. I am now 57 and still love Alton. Audrey Collingborn, Altonian.’

Imagining 1814

I love living in Alton because, with a little imagination I can return to, for example, the year 1814 and witness events such as the following:

 

The slight figure matched her quick, firm step to that of the man walking beside her.  She lacked but 5 inches of his 6 foot in height and other physical resemblances proclaimed them to be related. Their cheerful amiability indicated the pleasure they found in each others' company.They were deep in conversation as they made their way from her home village of Chawton to Alton High Street. Henry was to visit his bank while his sister called at the draper's to enquire whether Mr Coleby had received the grey woollen cloak he had undertaken to order for her.

 

'You know perfectly well that it has never been my intention to reveal my identity, but you will tell everyone that you are the brother of a novelist!' 

 

 'Of course! and I will continue to do so.  You are no ordinary novelist. You are a writer of genius and I intend making sure you obtain the fame you deserve!' replied Henry with his customary spirit.

 

'You are impossible!  I know our brother Frank will keep my secret. We sometimes joke about it and I tell him that I have come to recognise the superiority of making money over that of creating mystery. Now that my third novel is about to be published I may not even attempt to lie about its authorship!' 

 

'You may joke if you please, but I intend making sure that the day will come when people will visit Alton simply because you lived nearby.'  

 

She threw back her head and laughed her melodious, infectious laugh - a sound which her brother recalled with great sadness as, three years later, he penned the words of dedication which were to preface the posthumous publication of some of her work:  'No accumulation of fame would have induced her, had she lived, to affix her name to any productions of her pen.'  With pride he revealed to the reading public that the 'lady' who had penned  'Sense and Sensibility' and subsequent novels was his own, dear sister, Jane Austen.

 

Olive Drakes

A TALE OF ALTON : A simple poem by J.R.

This is the tale of Alton Town

A Historical place… with links to the Crown

It was here a Battle Royal was fought..

Twixt Cavaliers & Roundheads..

Where Victory was sought

In the year 2000 an re-enactment was made

Reliving the Battle so brilliantly played

With costumes so vibrant & weapons so real

We were transported back in time.

That’s how it made one feel

Alton is a market town

On Tuesdays it’s a treat

To see the stalls around the square

And people there to meet.

So many things to buy & see

It really is the place to be

On Summer days it is a delight

To browse around the plants

So colourful & bright.

Down at the fruit stall..

You’re in for a treat

With peaches & strawberries

You’ld just love to eat!

Every year on Father’s Day

A great event takes place..

Upon the Butts so wide & green

The Cricket Match is Ace!

With an Old-fashioned bat & old fashioned ball

The style of the players thrills us all!

With their Victorian shirts & pants & boots

We cheer them on with shouts & hoots!

The Watercress Line is a wonderful treat

You can travel to Alresford & have a good seat..

To look at the countryside so pleasant to see

This England is lovely, don’t you agree?

Jane Austen the author lived near

Just down the road at Chawton so dear..

She wrote many lines of characters so good

Would she still love Alton ? I’m sure she would

Yes, Alton is great, of that we are sure

Our little part of England which we all adore

With our parks & churches, museums of yore

God Bless us all, who would want more?

                                      

What is it about Alton, this little market town,

That makes me leap to its defence when others put it down.

Why do I feel so strongly about its present and its past,

What do I want to change and what do I hope will last.

I hope our children will inherit the parks and open space,

And that the library and museums will also have their place.

But right now, here in Alton, what is it that’s sublime,

What makes us different from the rest and stands the test of time.

It’s not the buildings or the landscape that makes this town the best,

Or the Clubs and Pubs that sets it apart from all the rest.

It’s the friendliness of Alton folk that many people seek,

And in my opinion that’s the reason Alton is unique

Linda Schofield  Seenager (Senior Citizen)

Calligraphy by Arthur Harvey, 85

Florence Wall, 8

Painted in the farmyard during Amery Hill School art lessons

Gav McKernon (painted at age 13)

"I like the people, I find them very helpful, obliging and friendly

- and at the library there's always someone to help me on the computer."

Barbara Thompson, 82

'My favourite place in Alton' (the Library)

Grace Heath, 6