I found out today what Richard Booth has been planning.
Going through the middle of town on Islay's morning walk, we often pass an old chap who sits outside his house, or outside the Wheatsheaf, watching the world go by. Today, he called me over. "Are you looking for a job?" he asked.
"Got one, thanks - why?"
He pointed to the poster he'd put up in his front window.
"100,000 Free Books
Start Your Own Booktown"
Richard will be giving a speech at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on the Bank Holiday and, apparently, giving books away in bulk.
He's also, according to rumour, looking to buy the function room of the British Legion, which is up for sale at the moment. I couldn't think what any prospective buyer would be able to use it for when it first came on the market, but Richard seems to have thought of something....
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3 comments:
The old chap who sits outside his house is Mr. Ken Jenkins who, with his late wife, was at one time the landlord of The Wheatsheaf Inn and previous to that landlord of the Three Tuns (now Spar Stores) in Castle Street. Ken and his wife were born in Hay. The Three Tuns was the main "watering hole" of Richard Booth and his entourage when he first bought the castle back in the early sixties.
Eric Pugh
Thank you, Eric.
Are you sure it was the Three Tuns? I thought Spar used to be the Mason's Arms?
Vi, Ken's wife, was one of the first people I got to know when I first came to Hay. She ran the SF department of Booths at Five Star (now Nepal Bazaar). She never read any of the stock - but she knew what sold!
Sorry, I should have known better. It was of course The Mason's Arms. My apologies. Put it down to old age!!
Eric
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