JANE’S JOTTINGS
Cutting Edge Being
a
bookworm hasn’t always been fashionable. As a teenager in the 1960s, I’d only admit to reading The Pan Book of Horror Stories and Ian Fleming. I remember my dad taking us to the pictures to see ‘Goldfinger’ in Harrogate for my 14th birthday.
But now my lifelong devotion to the novel is paying off. I’m trendy!
With everyone joining book groups, hugging Kindles and watching sophisticated book-chat programmes on telly, my knowledge of these things is coming in handy.
I was as sad as anyone when the old Arcade bookshop closed down, where Eileen and then Francis shared with customers their passion for reading. But, despite the
internet, there have never been so many places to buy books across the counter in Eltham, courtesy of our many charity shops.
Most have extensive and professionally arranged selections. I decided to do a little survey. Up at Demelza, a specialism is hardback autobiography with those of Kate Adie, Ronan Keating, John Thaw, Barbara Windsor and David Beckham going for just £2; at Cancer Research, it’s blockbuster territory and a £1 will buy you a John Grisham, Dick Francis or Shirley Conran.
Congrats to the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice for its upstairs shelving, neatly categorised
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into nature, sport, collectables, gardening, history and paperbacks. Hard-pressed parents could do worse than to pop into Barnado’s where ‘Three for 99p’ can be found in the bargain box.
Right up-market is the British Red Cross, with glossy hardbacks on Dali, Constable, Owls for several pounds each. The British Heart Foundation has an attractive window display and two twirly shelves by the door. Appealing to the page-turner fraternity, Save the Children offers racy thrillers and slushy romances.
For value-hunters, it’s just impossible to beat the Cat Protection store in Well Hall. Four hard backs or eight paperbacks for £1...Miaow!
Imagine my delight, though, when I noticed the Rolls-Royce of bookshops, Ink and Folly opening on the High Street up by Southend Crescent. With fresh tea brewing, attractive shelving, the sight of yards of clean, unfingered literature to browse and the knowledgeable Zoe to chat to. Eltham…we’re cutting edge.
Jane Webb has lived in Eltham since '85 with her husband and daughter. She has taught at several local primary schools'
Saturday 11 June to Sunday 3 July MOTTINGHAM FESTIVAL 2011
programme which is now being finalised. Already booked is the Mottingham Fete, preceded by a vehicle display through the village, which will be held between 1-5pm on Saturday 18 June at Mottingham Sports Ground, Grove Park Road.
A
Details to date on website
www.mottinghamfestival.co.uk
8 Vote at elections, it is your right
variety of new events, plus some old favourites, will be featured in this year’s
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