Billingshurst Lions Club: Looking back at the history of the bookshop

The Lions Bookshop reaches another milestone

Billingshurst & District Lions Club is pleased to announce that in August they have now raised over three quarters of a million pounds, all through volunteers selling secondhand books for more than 20 years. As one member said, “That’s an awful lot of books.” The club send grateful thanks to all loyal supporters for their donated books and to those who come and buy them, without whom this would not be possible.

The venture first began selling books from a trestle table stall in Jengers Mead on a Saturday morning. Encouraged by its popularity, the club then sold books from various shops in the village as they became available between permanent occupants. This proved so successful that In 2002, the Club took the decision to lease a permanent shop in Jengers Mead, where it remains today.

Inevitably, costs of running the shop have increased with fewer funds available for charitable causes. To try and maintain a reasonable level of income to continue supporting the local community in these increasingly difficult times, the club has reluctantly decided to make some changes and slight adjustments to the pricing.

From 1st August, hardbacks increased to £2 each and jigsaws £1.50 each, but paperbacks still remain at £1 each and children’s books at five for £1. Selected books will continue to be priced individually and displayed in the window. Due to lack of demand, DVDs, as with CDs earlier, can no longer be accepted, allowing more space devoted to books, which seem as popular as ever. One customer recently remarked that she loved the bookshop and its atmosphere. “It’s a real pleasure to come and browse through the fascinating range of books on display, discover new authors and books on all kinds of quirky subjects. Long may it continue.”

Follow Billingshurst Lions on Facebook and on their website www.billingshurstlions.org.

And don’t forget to visit the Lions Charity Bookshop in Jengers Mead! Harvey Holmes – Press Officer, Billingshurst & District Lions Club

Photo: from the archive, one of the ‘pop-up’ bookshops on the High Street probably taken in the mid-1990’s

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