Closing book shop donates stock

AS ONE chapter ended, another began when the books from Grimsby's last independent book shop were donated to a local charity.

The final page has turned for the Chapter 5 book shop on Freeman Street as it closes its door next month.

However, its books will get a new lease of life when they are donated to St Andrew's Hospice.

Owners Mike and Diane Willerton, of Waltham, said: "It's a lovely way to end what's been part of our lives for the past 30 years.

"We knew of all the great and wonderful work done by St Andrew's and wanted to give them something to help raise money for the people they care for."

The pair closed their shop due to the rise of new technologies and the internet.

They said: "The latest technology of Kindles and Amazon has been the final nail in the coffin. Our trade has been gradually picked away by the changing market.

"We're upset we have to close but we've enjoyed every second of running the shop."

The pair aim to give more than 10,000 books to the hospice's chain of nine shops in the area which raise money for it.

The store will finally close its doors on Saturday, August 10, and will continue to trade as usual until then.

Emily Appleton, of St Andrew's Hospice, said: "It's a fantastic opportunity. Books are a key seller across our shops, and we hope that all together they can make in excess of £3,000, which is money that would go straight back into the charity.

"The first editions we will sell on our Ebay page to raise as much money as possible. We want to thank Mike and Diane for donating them, it's a lovely thing for them to do – they could have just sold them all but they instead chose to donate them to such a worthy cause."

The couple began their business after taking over a small store in Oxford Street, opposite the former Casablanca Club.

Diane said: "The place was a dive when we took it over. We turned it around before moving to four different shops. Mike completely renovated this shop and we always thought we would be able to leave the store to our family but, over the past few years, it has become obvious we sadly cannot continue.

Mike added: "It's so hard to have to close. There must be 60,000 people within our catchment area and it's sad to think one little store cannot survive."