BROMLEA Books - founded by ex Bolton librarian Valerie Johnstone - is leaving the Last Drop Village at Bromley Cross, after more than eight years. The shop has become known around the globe for its collectable books, and last year hit the headlines when some of the world's rarest books which had been stolen from the shop turned up in America. Val explained why she and husband Malcolm had decided the time was ripe to move on.

"We have lived in Bolton for 30 years and will always be grateful for the help and encouragement given to us in building up Bromlea Books," said Val.

"The Last Drop was a superb location from which to launch a shop of this type. But so much of our time is spent in the south east that we have decided to make a break."

The shop will remain open, but under new ownership.

Val and Malcolm will be bowing out with their big annual PBFA bookfair at the The Last Drop, and by chance it falls on the last day she will be the owner of the shop, Saturday, October 31.

"The fair always attracts a good turnout but this time it will be specially emotional," Malcolm said.

Among rare books on offer will be a collection of Bolton born playwright Bill Naughton first editions and a book called Concerning Cotton, published in 1920 to publicise the mills of the Amalgamated Cotton Mills Trust, many of which were in Bolton.

The Johnstone family have merged their business with an Oxford firm and intend to open a shop in Henley-on-Thames.

"Henley is a lovely place, and very close to the London motorways and Heathrow, these are important factors in the continued growth of the business," said Val.

But she confesses that leaving Bolton will be 'a wrench after all these years'.

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