I’m feeling very flattered to be the author for the town of Wymondham’s One Community One book project in 2020. I’ll be doing three events with their local shop Kett’s Books.
Bookshops are ahead of the curve. They are offering us a model of how we can save our high streets, especially in communities like this. Book lovers are the first to have really figured out that retail space is no longer just about selling you stuff; it’s about creating communities through events and through shared passions. That’s what our shops need to become.
The story of Kett’s Books is particularly brilliant. In 2013 locals were dismayed to hear that their local bookshop was closing. Rather than accept that their town would be diminished, they raised cash to reopen the bookshop and have run it as a Community Interest Company since then. It’s been successful enough for them to employ a professional bookseller now, but the chances are if you go in, it’ll be run by a volunteer. They’ve run a great programme of events for several years now.
I’m so impressed by what’s been happening in Wymondham. Please come if you can: the first event is on February 27th.