TO MARCH 3: WH Allen: By the Sea. Exhibition focusing on seascapes from Hampshire County Council art collection to include activities for younger visitors, including the opportunity to go on a table-top seaside safari. Open 10.30am-4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Free entry.

FEBRUARY 1-MARCH 1: Southern Steam in the 1960s: Exhibition of Mid Hants Railway photographs by Tim Carbury of scenes from the latter days of steam on the southern network at the Allen Gallery, Church Street, Alton. Open 10.30am- 4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Free entry, donations welcome.

FEBRUARY 3: St Lawrence monthly market at St Lawrence Church Parish Centre, Vicarage Hill, Alton, 9am-12.30pm. Plenty of bargains, refreshments available. For donations, call 07340 109428.

FEBRUARY 3/4: Alton Model Railway Group Febex 2018 at Eggar’s School, Alton, 10.30am-5pm (4.30pm Sunday). Layouts, trade stands, displays, demonstrations. Special feature: ‘There is always room for a model railway’ - layouts for small spaces. Refreshments. Free preserved bus service between Alton station, the town centre and the exhibition. Entry £4.50 adults, accompanied children free. Visit altonmrg.co.uk/febex.

FEBRUARY 10: Dreams Come True Lady Gaga tribute night at Alton Maltings Centre, featuring Lady ZaZa and full supporting band, 7.30pm. In aid of Dreams Come True charity, bringing joy to children and young people with serious and life-limiting conditions. Supported by Homes. Bar till late, taxis at midnight. Tickets £23 (to include fish and chip supper, vegetarian option available) from Sally Powell on 01420 562364 or online at hopesanddreamscharityevents.uk.

FEBRUARY 4: Alton Ramblers meet 9.30am at Alton Health Centre car park for a 10-mile walk led by Chester & Mui, starting 10am, parking on school side of Medstead village green (SU 658368). Walk along the Medstead pathways with the chance of some good views. Bring lunch. Call 01420 23323 or visit altonramblers.org.uk.

FEBRUARY 5: Knickerbocker Glory Appalachian Dancers meet 7.30pm-9.30pm Mondays (during term time) at St Lawrence Church Hall, Vicarage Hill, Alton. A mixed, lively team dancing Appalachian style in tap shoes (hard-soled shoes acceptable). Keen to welcome new dancers and musicians. Drop in on a Monday evening. Call Syliva on 077510 17525 or visit kbgdance.org.uk.

FEBRUARY 6: EHDC Community Forum (Alton and the surrounding villages) at Alton Maltings Centre, 6.30pm. To include a presentation by a representative of national charity CitizenAID on what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Plus public question time.

FEBRUARY 6: Talk by mountaineer Mollie Hughes at St Swithun’s School, Winchester, 7.30pm. At the age of 26, Mollie was the youngest woman in the world, and the first woman in England, to successfully ascend both the north and south sides of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. Free admission, open to everyone. To book, e-mail [email protected].

FEBRUARY 8: The A31 Community Wellbeing Hub drop-in session at Chawton Park Surgery, Chawton Park Road, Alton, 10am-2pm. Topic: Citizens Advice East Hampshire on ‘Reducing your Utility/Energy and other Bills’. To book an appointment to see an adviser, call Chawton Park Surgery on 01420 542542. For patients of Chawton Park Surgery and the Wilson Practice (Alton Health Centre), Boundaries Surgery at Four Marks, Bentley Village Surgery, and Watercress Medical at Medstead. Tea, coffee available for donation. Visit www.a31communitywellbeinghub.com.

FEBRUARY 8: Volunteer open day at Gilbert White Field Studies Centre, Selborne, 11am-3pm. An opportunity to find out more about volunteering for Gilbert White’s House Museum, the Garden and Field Studies Centre. Call 01420 511275, e-mail [email protected] or visit gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk.

FEBRUARY 9: Alton U3A monthly coffee morning at the Allen Gallery, Church Street, Alton, 10.30am. Non-members welcome.

FEBRUARY 10: Hampshire farmers’ market, Alton High Street, 10am-2pm.

FEBRUARY 10: Alton Local Food Initiative (ALFI) Seedy Saturday at Alton Methodist Church Hall, 10.30am-12.30pm. Bring seeds to swap or take some home for a small donation. Refreshments available. Visit altonlocalfood.org.uk.

FEBRUARY 10-17: Half-term family trail at the Curtis Museum, Crown Hill, Alton. Pop in and find out about different rocks and minerals while exploring the museum. Open 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday. Free entry, donations welcome.

FEBRUARY 12: Half-term storytime special at Alton library, 10.30am. Jayne Stennett, author of ‘Mama’s Moggies’ will be introducing her feline friends to children aged four to seven with readings and craft. Each cat has its own character and children can find out what they get up to in their big adventure before designing their own Moggie to share in the journey. Just drop in, no need to book. Free entry.

FEBRUARY 12: EHDC Rural Areas Play Project at Medstead Village Hall, 10am-noon and 1pm-3pm. Morning: Mod roc messy fun making BB8s and R2-D2s (wear old clothes). Afternoon: Ewoks and Yoda crafty creations. To register, visit easthants.gov.uk/

rapp or call 01730 266551.

FEBRUARY 12: EHDC Get Activ8d street dance at Alton College (dance studio), 10am-noon. Cost £4 per child. To register, visit easthants.gov.uk/get-activ8d or call 01730 266551.

FEBRUARY 13: Alton pancake race in Alton Public Gardens. Registration 10.45am, first race 11.30am. Children’s and team relay races. Bring your own frying pan, pancakes provided. £1 per entry. Prizes for race winners and best fancy dress, donated by Sweet Chocolate, Westbrook Walk, Alton. Free hot pancakes to eat provided by Churches of the Greater Alton Project. Organised by Alton Town Council. Call 01420 83986 or visit alton.gov.uk.

FEBRUARY 13: Museum by Torchlight at the Curtis Museum, Crown Hill, Alton, 5.30pm-7.30pm. Drop in and take part in a quiz based on some of the museum’s exhibits. Bring a torch and explore the museum at night. Cost £3 per child, no need to book. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

FEBRUARY 14: EHDC Get Activ8d tennis coaching day at Kingsley Tennis Centre, 10am-3pm. Suitable for nine to 14 year olds. Bring packed lunch and drink. Cost £10 per child. To register, visit easthants.gov.uk/get-activ8d or call 01730 266551.

FEBRUARY 15: Alton Horticultural Society meet at Alton Community Centre for a talk by Mary Holliday-Bishop on ‘Sir Joseph Banks and Captain James Cook’, 7.30pm. Visitors and new members welcome.

FEBRUARY 15: Antarctic lecture series 2018, second talk given by Simon Garrod, head of operations at the British Antarctic Survey, talking about the Halley Research Station, with an overview of the challenges, solutions and future directions of Antarctic operations at Gilbert White Field Studies Centre, Selborne, 7pm. Tickets £15 (£30 for the series of three lectures) from the museum on 01420 511275 or online at gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk.

FEBRUARY 15: Half-term make and take. Drop into the Allen Gallery, Church Street, Alton, from 11am-1pm or 2pm-4pm and make your own special items to welcome the spring and take home. Cost £3 per child. Children must be accompanied.

FEBRUARY 16: EHDC Get Activ8d climbing at Alton Sports Centre, 1pm-2.30pm. Cost £6 per child. To register, visit easthants.gov.uk/get-activ8d or call 01730 266551.

FEBRUARY 16-17: Alton Winter Beer Festival at Alton College. Beers, ciders, music, food. Friday evening 7pm-11pm, Saturday lunchtime 11am-3pm, Saturday evening 7-11pm. Raising money for local charity. Tickets £7.50 (first half free) Friday evening and Saturday lunch, £5 Saturday evening from The Railway Arms, The George and The King’s Head, Alton; The Queen’s Head, Holybourne; The Jolly Sailor, Farnham; Triple fff Bar and Brewery, Four Marks; or online at altonbeerfrestival.org.uk.

FEBRUARY 17: Alton town walk starting 11am from the Curtis Museum, Crown Hill, Alton. Adults £3, children 5-16 50p. Bespoke walks for groups can be arranged on other days. Call 01420 85057.

FEBRUARY 18: Alton U3A monthly meeting at Alton Community Centre, 2pm. Talk by Phil Holt on ‘The Red Arrows - the Best of British’: events that led to the creation of the team and what goes on behind the scenes. Admission £1. All welcome.

n If you have anything you wish to be included in the What’s On column, send details to the Alton Herald, 13 Market Square, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1HD or e-mail Moira Howells at [email protected]. The service is free to clubs and charitable organisations.