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MOMENTUM is building for celebrations to mark the anniversary of the burial of a King in Winchester.

Members of the Hyde 900 movement are planning a varied programme of events to commemorate the 900th anniversary in 2010 of King Alfred's burial at Hyde Abbey, including a pageant and street party.

Other ideas, such as living history and environmental projects, are already underway.

Organisers, who hope to attract lottery funding later this year to back the £250,000 programme, held their annual meeting at Hyde Parish Hall last Saturday to discuss progress so far.

Ron Allison, who chairs the group, said there was already one example of Hyde 900 creating an event that might become an annual fixture.

In May, around 15 cyclists rode from Winchester to Wantage- the birthplace of King Alfred, and back again, a trip of 100 miles.

Mr Allison said a similar event was planned next year.

Lawrence Talks, who leads the environmental project, said volunteers were shoring up the banks of the Nun's Stream with chalk.

He added that they hoped to complete it on Saturday, August 16.

A community litter pick is also planned for Saturday, August 9, starting at Hyde Gate at 10.30am.

Another Hyde resident, Paul Williams, outlined the cultural side of Hyde 900.

He said a community poetry reading session was pencilled in for Friday, October 17, at the parish hall.

Musical events, which might be held at the hall or St Bartholomew's Church, were also a possibility.

He said: "We need your thoughts and your ideas, and we especially need your contribution to these events."

Madelaine Key, who leads the living history group, said they hoped to collect enough stories and pictures about Hyde to create a book.

She said: "We now have quite a large living history group, in fact it's so big that we can no longer meet in each other's houses, as we regularly have about 12 members if not more."

Edward Fennel, who is on the Hyde 900 executive, said firm plans for the larger events in 2010 were taking shape.

He said: "At a time when we're told about society being fractured, it is inspiring how the community is coming together, and we only have to look at the litter picking for an example of that.

"It's been a long time coming, but the next nine months will be crucial in whether we can have the high profile events that we're all hoping for."

Visit www.hyde900.co.uk for more details about the programme.

11:27am Thursday 24th July 2008

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