Bookseller's story reaches sad ending (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Bookseller's story reaches sad ending

9:26am Sunday 1st April 2007 in

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The final chapter for an independent trader is almost complete.

The end of the story has come for John Prescott and his Twickenham bookshop after 40 years selling books in the area.

John, 81, began trading from a trestle table in his Petersham Road garden.

He said: "I started because I had accumulated so many books at home. I managed to offend the local authority who did not think I should be operating on a Sunday."

But he won the battle and went on to open The Richmond Bookshop in Paradise Road in 1964 and later in Red Lion Street. According to John, regular customers included David Attenborough, Bamber Gascoigne, Desmond Morris and Jeremy Paxman.

Nine years ago he took his books to York Road and opened John Prescott - The Bookseller, with business partner Romy Rey.

John said: "I have had a long time in the business - but that isn't the reason for stopping. If there was demand I would have gone on."

John said that loyal customers followed him after the move in 1998, but trade dropped off after a couple of years.

"Unfortunately, the residents from the other side of the river did not find regular visits to Twickenham attractive. For them, Richmond Bridge seems to be a bridge too far.

"There does seem to be a cultural difference - Twickenham is attractive for the rugby and the restaurants and Richmond for the culture and the shops. So perhaps my bookshop was simply on the wrong side of the river."

Mr Prescott also feels that the internet had a hand in dwindling custom.

"Many secondhand booksellers mention the chilly internet factor' that has caused the closure of so many bookshops over the past few years.

"I had the freehold on my premises. If I had had to pay rent I don't think I would have been able to keep going at all."

Twickenham's town centre manager, Esther Worboys, said: "I knew that John was having trouble in his location and its a real shame when any independent trader has to close down - we want to encourage independents as much as we can."

A final sale of John's books will take place at the York Street shop until April 1, where customers can snap up stock with 75 per cent reductions.