Watership Down revisited at exhibition tomorrow (Saturday)

The classic tale about a group of rabbits whose habitat is threatened by developers, is to re-published with illustrations by Aldo Galli.
The artist’s paintings will be on display at St George’s Church, Andover Road, Wash Common, tomorrow (Saturday) between 11am and 4.30pm.
Richard Adams will be available for book signing between 3pm and 4pm, and will also be announcing the winner of a writing competition held recently by pupils of Falkland Primary School. The timing of the exhibition could not be better. The proposed development of Sandleford Park on some of the countryside which provided inspiration for the book, has thrust the novel and its 91 year old author who is campaigning against the hoousing plan, back in the national spotlight.
Adams, who used to live in Wash Common said: “I have been working with Aldo for four years on this project and it is tremendously exciting to see the fruits of that labour and all the book’s paintings on display for the first time under one roof.
“Aldo has done a fine job expressing pictorially the contents of the book. I hope his work receives the widespread praise that it deserves.”
Mr Galli added “I was introduced to Watership Down as a boy in 1979 when it was first translated into Italian and my father gave it to me as a Christmas present. I have loved the book ever since and when I moved to England I was astonished to find I lived so close to the setting of the novel and was determined to capture the book in paint.
“I approached the agents regarding the copyright and they put me in contact with Richard. When he saw my first paintings he said there and then that he would like me to paint for the commemorative edition, and in researching the project I have come to love the area as much as Richard.”
Peter Norman of the 'SayNOtoSandleford' campaign, who organised the event, said: “It is a privilege to be hosting the first ever exhibition of all the paintings and should make for a very exciting day which all the family can enjoy.”
In addition there will be hourly tours from the church to Sandleford Park between 11.30am and 3.30pm.