Atherstone Booktown rumours circulate
June 7th, 2006 by Mr Booktown
The ‘word on the street’ is that the Atherstone Booktown project has hit a snag.James Hanna, the man enlisted to turn Atherstone into a booktown, is rumoured to have left town at the end of May. The Atherstone booktown headquarters on the Market Square currently looks like it is no longer trading, and several of it’s historic pieces have been given to the Heritage Centre.
These new occurences all look to have stemmed from an issue surrounding the tenancy of the Market Square HQ.
These rumours may not be partially or completely true. We mention them here as we have heard them from several different local sources.
We welcome any comments local residents have to say on this issue, including any corrections or clarification.
June 8th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
Hi
The word on the street is wrong and anyone who has heard this or any other rumour and repeated it without checking their source is foolish. James Hanna has not and is not leaving Atherstone, and the Atherstone Bookshop is and has been trading, whatever appearances may suggest. Some basic fact-checking would have determined this - a very good idea for anyone who wants to publish in a public forum like this. Atherstone’s four and a half bookshops (Throckmorton’s, Atherstone Bookshop, The Sit-a-While, & St Giles Hospice, w/ the Red Lion’s King’s Library being the half) are all open for business, and more are in the pipeline. Speaking for myself, here at Throckmorton’s we are about to mark our first year in business, which has exceeded expectations. This rumour has no basis in fact or conjecture and only serves the purposes of those who would - for whatever reason - seek to undermine our venture.
July 14th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
hello and welcome to the dog and pony show here at the country club. isnt it wonderful?
September 7th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
James Hanna has now left Atherstone and the booktown project.
“THE founder of Atherstone Booktown has left the country amid claims book sellers have paid him thousands of pounds for services he failed to provide.”
“While no reason has been given for the sudden departure and lack of a forwarding address, it appears that Mr Hanna has been planning to shut down his Atherstone Booktown Ltd company for some time.“
…
The Herald 7th September 2006