Spring Sale

If you got book tokens for Christmas or gift money to spend then hurry down to take full advantage of hundreds of bargain titles we have in the shop reduced by 50% or more. Our special £5 EACH or 3 BOOKS FOR £10 deal on hundreds of our paperback novels is still running. We’re also selling off remainders of old card stock at a mere £1 per card.

Movie Mania Hits Hoddesdon

In 1963 many people in Hoddesdon were surprised when famous actresses, Sheila Hancock and Susan Hampshire, turned up unexpectedly in their High Street to shoot a series of scenes for the psychological drama Night Must Fall. The film was adapted from a very successful play written by Emlyn Williams first produced in 1935, with the big screen version appearing in 1937. The1964 remake was directed by Karel Reisz and also starred Albert Finney and Mona Washbourne. Finney plays Danny: a working-class psychopath who moves in with a wealthy widow to redecorate her house and then plays "games" with her, while sleeping with her daughter and maid. Another sequence featured the inside and outside the Pavilion Cinema, with “rain” supplied from the hoses of the local fire brigade.  Copies of the film on DVD are available from the shop at £9.99.

New Card Ranges for 2012

We’ve stocked up with some great new greetings cards to keep bringing you the most stylish and distinctive selection in town. We’ve just had in lovely photographic cards supporting the RSPB and the NGS Gardens Open for Charity. There’s a range of cards featuring famous paintings from the National Gallery accompanied by relevant quotations. In addition we’ve got a set of cartoon humour cards which certainly make us laugh…

Local Interest Titles

London’s Lea Valley: A Century of Growing is a new hardback book costing £25 written by Jim Lewis to tell the story of The Lea Valley Growers’ Association which was set up in 1911 with the goal of representing growers on the political lobbying front.

The Association, in its hundred-year history, has survived two World Wars, numerous storms, heat waves, freezes, floods, and on more than one occasion a global meltdown of the money markets. This book celebrates an industry that has helped feed Britain so that future generations can benefit from a supply of fresh food grown by an environmentally conscious organisation.

We also stock Jim’s series of  £9.99 paperback books on various aspects of the Lea Valley’s history: Regeneration and Innovation: Invention and Reinvention in the Lea Valley; Weapons, Wireless and World Wars: The Vital Role of the Lea Valley; From Gunpowder to Guns: the Story of Two Lea Valley Armouries.

Mary Portas Retail Report

Just before Christmas retail guru Mary Portas published the report on the future of high street retailing which she’d been commissioned to produce by the Prime Minister. It recognised that Britain’s high streets are in crisis and, unless urgent action is taken, are likely to see further rapid decline in the immediate future. We fully agree with the Report’s conclusion:
 
“The only hope our high streets have of surviving in the future is to recognise what’s happened and deliver something new. High streets are the heart of towns and communities. They have been for centuries. People are passionate about high streets. They may have different views on what’s wrong and what’s right, but I don’t believe anyone can put their hand on their heart and say they don’t care.”

You can read the 28 recommendations on the Mary Portas website. We have written to Broxbourne Council arguing that they should set up a public meeting to discuss the main proposals of the Portas Report with a view to implementing them for our town, but they have publicly responded that they do not believe any such action is necessary.

Helen Exley Gift Books

In each newsletter we highlight a particular ranges of books which are competitively priced, and we know will particularly appeal to our customers. We have a special promotion running on a wide range of Helen Exley Gift Books which have all been reduced to only £2.99. These lovely little hardbacks are designed to be given as a special presents to family members, close friends and loved ones and are filled with charming illustrations,  memorable quotes and special sentiments. We also have a popular selection of their small humour titles with cartoons on a range of topics from marriage and old age to golf and football. Get them while stocks last…