SHOPPERS in Dorchester may get a surprise tomorrow as a procession of artists, musicians and performers march through the town in an historic tribute to the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
The parade will leave Maumbury Rings at around 3.30pm before marching through South Street,reaching Shire Hall by around 4.30pm.
There, an evening of performance, art and music will ensue in honour of the eponymous band of Dorset farm workers who started a revolution in workers' rights.
The six Martyrs were convicted for pledging an illegal secret oath to 'The Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers' – an early trades union – seen as a threat to the establishment at the time. They were sentenced at Dorchester's Historic Shire Hall Courthouse in 1834 and deported to Australia – triggering mass protests across the UK.
On Friday March 6, in honour of the six, a 150-strong group of Weymouth College students studying creative arts will join together, lead by artist Simon Lee Dicker, to form 'The Friendly Society of Artistic Labourers' and bring the Martyrs' legacy to life.
Evening events start at 6.30pm; booking is recommended. Tickets cost £5, proceeds to the Shire Hall charity trust.
For tickets visit allEvents.in
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