Day 10 took us through some of the prettiest parts of west Wales as the Torch travelled from Aberystwyth to Bangor.
 |
| Local schoolgirl Carwen Richards was the first Torchbearer on Day 10 in Aberystwyth. |
Paul Morgan manages Coch-Y-Bonddu, a specialist fishing and field sports bookshop in Machnynllet. He was a little underwhelmed.
'We weren’t very involved in the event. The Torch arrived at 10am on what would have been a quiet day, and it went back to being a quiet day soon after the torch had left. The town was packed for ten minutes and there was a great palaver as it went galloping past the shop and then everything returned to normal. It didn’t have much influence on our lives.
Ben Cowper, manager at Browsers Bookshop in Porthmadog, was more impressed. ‘It was really nice to see the town return to how it used to be on a busy summer’s day with hundreds of people out on the streets. There was almost a carnival feel about it.’
Ben’s only criticism was that after the initial fanfare there was a five minute delay before the Torch arrived and the delay dampened the atmosphere a little.
Generally though, the Torch was met with great enthusiasm and when Ben left the shop and travelled home, he saw that there were still people lining the route of the Torch and ‘even when it was being carried in the van, they still came out to wave and cheer it on.’
Stephen Wright, manager of Booksellers in Pwllheli, ‘There was an excellent turnout in Pwllheli. It was the Torch’s third day in Wales and the Torchbearer began on the outskirts of town and then ran down to the Sailing Club. Pwllheli had had great hopes of being included as one of the Olympic venues, but it was not to be. However, we’re still hopeful that some of the teams might come here for training.’
 |
| Pwiheli harbour - looks lovely! |
'The Torch w
0 Comments on Olympic Bookshop Hop - Day 10 - Aberystwyth to Bangor as of 6/1/2012 7:57:00 AM
Add a Comment
By: HBB,
on 5/31/2012
Blog: Hogs Back Books Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Olympics, Out and about, Independent bookshops, Add a tag
Day 9 and we spoke with Gareth Evans, the manager at Victoria Bookshop, Haverford West (the only independent bookshop in the county).
‘When we heard that the Torch was coming to town we thought about opening the shop, but decided not to. Haverford West is not really a Sunday-shopping town, and it’s unlikely that we’d have done much business. Once people found a good vantage point for seeing the Torch, they were reluctant to move in case they lost it.
'Here in west Wales, the Olympics isn’t creating extra business. Most of the Games are taking place too far away from us - the nearest event is Ladies’ Football in Cardiff, and, whilst I like the Ladies’ Football, this doesn’t have a great pull for me.
‘We did order in some Olympic 50p coins, featuring the different sports, to sell alongside the books, but these retail at £3, and once people learned that the coins were going to be in general circulation at their face value, there was no demand for them.’
‘The Goodwick Brass Band – a popular local band – played a mix of great Welsh and English tunes and there was a line up of local young athletes, one of whom sang the Welsh National Anthem.
‘For the first leg of the town relay, the Torch was carried by a local student and she handed it to Jill Edge, who carried it in a special attachment on her mobility scooter. Jill is well-known in the community for her efforts in trying to keep the local theatre and cinema open.
Simon Williams, manager at the Aberystwyth Art Centre, confessed to being ‘a bit negative’ about the Torch relay before its arrival, but having seen it, felt it ‘worked well. The Torch stopped here for the night and 8,000 people (three-quarters of the town’s population) turned up to see the evening cauldron being lit.’
Simon missed most of the entertainment while waiting at the bottom of his road for the Torchbearer to pass, but he didn’t miss out on the atmosphere. ‘There was an “everyone-on-the-street” feel about it, as though the people were reclaiming the town – a real com
0 Comments on Olympic Bookshop Hop, Day 9 - Swansea to Aberystwyth as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: HBB,
on 5/31/2012
Blog: Hogs Back Books Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Olympics, Out and about, Independent bookshops, Add a tag
Day 8 started with Doctor Who in Cardiff where Hannah Liddle, assistant manager at Wellfield Bookshop, filled us in on events.
‘I was working when the Torch arrived, but when it came close to our end of town some of my colleagues popped out to see it and told me all about it – I heard all about the big crowds and the patriotism, and how it had gone on a big loop around Cardiff before finally resting at the Castle. It was a really cheerful event.
‘We didn’t have any special Olympic event in the shop – the space is a bit limited for that – but we got on board with the whole spirit of the thing. We had a small promotion on children’s books linked with the Olympics. Many parents and teachers have been asking for Olympics titles, especially ones which focus on its history, and we like to make sure that we’ve got what people want.’
Marilyn Nicolle, manager at Uplands Bookshop in Swansea, said, ‘I would love to have seen the Torch, and planned to do so, but unfortunately one of my colleagues was taken ill and so I had to be in the shop and missed it. Another colleague, who knew the Torch bearer, popped out and reported that thousands of people turned up to see it as it made its way to Fingleton Park, where it rested for the night before going on to the Mumbles and off towards Carmarthen. Everyone was on a buzz that day.’
0 Comments on Olympic Bookshop Hop, Day 8 - Cardiff to Swansea as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Hannah Hog,
on 5/30/2012
Blog: Hogs Back Books Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Olympics, Out and about, Independent bookshops, Add a tag
A bumper post today as we catch up with the Torch as it travelled from Worcestershire, through Herefordshire and Monmouthshire and into Wales.
Susan Raine at the Malvern Book Cooperative, (which only opened last month with a very original model - check out its site to learn more about its innovative, community-focused structure), told us what happened when the Torch came to town.
'Although not directly on the route of the torch, the Malvern Book Cooperative is definitely within shouting distance. So, we decided to get into the spirit of the games and join in. Our window is a combined Jubilee/Olympic theme with two dolls dressed in red, white and blue, wearing medals, waving flags and looking at books. We also feature a red, white and blue window box, fluttering ribbons and are displaying as many books as possible on a sporting theme.
'The Torch was not due until 9.10am, but we decided to open early. We'd already liaised with other Great Malvern traders concerning publicity and ordered 2012 golden balloons.
'On a glorious May morning we duly opened at 7am, and served early customers with a coffee/croissant deal for the day, while other members of staff patrolled the main road giving out golden balloons and spreading word of our early opening and breakfast deal.
'Everyone was in holiday mood! At the appointed time we shut the shop and joined the cheering crowds to see the Olympic Flame pass on its way. Then back to the shop and a rush of customers for both hot and cold drinks as well as the usual business of ordering, collecting and buying books.
'The whole of Malvern was in festive mood and really buzzing for the rest of the day. We were really glad to be part of the event and now it’s all systems go for Diamond Jubilee Weekend.'
From Worcestershire to Hereforshire and Monmouthshire, where Andy, owner of Rossiter Books, Ross-on-Wye, told us how, 'The streets were lined with 10,000 people, many of them school children who had been bussed in, so everything got screamed at, including the police motorcyclists. Two of my three children had arrived with their schools and were up on my shoulders joining in.
'The atmosphere built up nicely, with jugglers and people on stilts entertaining the crowds. Then the Olympic convoy arrived – the sponsors’ vehicles with dancers on top, which I hadn’t expected. After them, very quietly someone ran past the shop (within
0 Comments on Olympic Bookshop Hop - Days 7, 8 & 9 - Worcester to Aberystwyth as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Hannah Hog,
on 5/28/2012
Blog: Hogs Back Books Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Olympics, Out and about, Independent bookshops, Add a tag
Today we're catching up with Day 6 as the Torch passed by the lovely bookshops of Cheltenham, Ludlow and Worcester.
Dern Moss, of Moss Books in Cheltenham, reported that, 'a lot of people came out to see it and in the evening there were 40,000 people at the race course celebrating with music, other live entertainment and food. The stage was lit by a cauldron ignited by the Olympic flame.' However, 'the Torch didn't have much impact on the shop, despite a great deal of congestion in the town.'
 |
| Local MP, Philip Dunne, and the Mayor, get ready to welcome the Torch to Ludlow |
'It was very busy in the town square that afternoon and there were lots of visitors to the shop. We had a special window display, featuring Peggy the Much Wenlock Piglet.' As Stanton points out, Much Wenlock was the first place to host a modern Olympics (the precursor of the Modern Games), hence the name (Wenlock!) of one of the offical Olympic mascots (bet you can't name the other without Googling it*).
 |
| Dr Brooks - not the most likely looking Olympian |
*It's Mandeville, after the precursor of the Paralympics Games, which were held at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
0 Comments on Olympic Bookshop Hop - Day 6, Cheltenham to Worcester as of 5/28/2012 6:08:00 PM
Add a Comment
By: Hannah Hog,
on 5/26/2012
Blog: Hogs Back Books Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Olympics, Out and about, Bookseller, Independent bookshops, Add a tag
Day Five saw a spectacular start to the day with fireworks firing off the Clifton Suspension Bridge as the Torch made its way through Bristol to Wiltshire.
 |
| Photo: www.cliftonpeople.co.uk |
Kathryn Atkins, owner of Durdham Down Books, Bristol, reported that, ‘The torch passed through at 8.45am, within 200 yards of our shop. There were tremendous crowds outside - children, parents and grandparents. My mum, who is in her 80s, was up just after 8am to see it – she’s old enough to remember the last London Games and is very proud that her youngest grandson, Will (my nephew), will be one of the Torchbearers when it arrives in the Birmingham area.
‘The appearance of the Torch created a lot of excitement locally, helped enormously by the sunshine. The Torch had arrived at the harbourside the evening before and many people were using it as an excuse to meet up with friends.’
From a bookseller's perspective, ‘Olympic-themed books have been selling well for a few weeks and we have a display area devoted to these titles. Once the Games are underway, we’ll set up a special Olympics window display too.’
David Lawrence, supervisor at Foyles in Bristol noted that, ‘The torch travelled close by, but not past, our shop - it was quiet in the shop that day, but everyone who came in was talking about the torch and nearly everyone was wearing a Union Jack, or carrying a flag or a balloon. Bristol was very patriotic for an afternoon.’
On to Wiltshire, home to Stonehenge and the White Horse Bookshop (Vintage Independent Bookshop of the Year 2011!) in Malborough, Deborah Guest, one of its booksellers, explained how, ‘The torch went right past our shop door and outside the street was packed with people cheering and waving flags. It was also boiling hot and there were a lot of children becoming very fractious. We went upstairs and hung out of the first floor windows – we had a great view from there, better than anybody in town.
‘We saw the street entertainers (half a dozen people on springy stilts), the sponsors’ lorries, and the torch changing hands half w
0 Comments on Olympic Bookshop Hop - Day Five, Bristol to Cheltenham as of 5/26/2012 5:38:00 AM
Add a Comment
By: Hannah Hog,
on 5/24/2012
Blog: Hogs Back Books Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Olympics, Out and about, Bookseller, Independent bookshops, Add a tag
Day Four and the sun was there to accompany the Torch as it travelled through Taunton, Ilminster, Yeovil, Ilchester, Somerton, and Street to Glastonbury. We spoke with Alex Pritchard, sales assistant at Gothic Image – a shop that not only sells 'wyrd and wonderful' books, but also takes bookings for Magical Mystical Tours of the town famous as a centre for pilgrims of all faiths.
Alex notes that Glastonbury, as a pilgrimage town, 'is very hospitable towards travellers, and it certainly proved hospitable to its latest pilgrim, the Olympic Torch bearer, as he passed by on his way to Bath. Even the town hall had its topiary cut in the shape of the torch.
As befits a town renowned for its site on a major crossing of leylines, Alex said that the energy on the day was ‘electric. The torch didn’t just pass by our shop. It stopped there, which was great. We were standing on the shop steps and had a good view of everything. All the other shop keepers were out on the street too. We put out a bubble machine, which all the children loved. They’d all been let out of school, and many were carrying golden torches that they’d made themselves.
‘Glastonbury’s main street is very narrow, and there were huge crowds – it’s the busiest I’ve seen in the 12 years that I’ve lived here.'
'A rotten day for trading,’ was John Birkett Smith's wry observation as owner of the Hunting Raven Bookshop (which has a particularly good children's section) in Frome. However, he noted that ‘It was a good fun day for the town', after popping out to watch the proceedings.
Lucinda, bookseller at Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, said that they didn’t see much of the Torch relay event as they were off the route, but there was a definite buzz around the town, helped by the sunny weather. The bookshop entered into the spirit of the event with a red, white and blue window display while the people of Bath created their very own Olympic display, with over 2,200 people forming the Olympic rings in front of the Royal Crescent.
0 Comments on Olympic Bookshop, Day Four - Taunton to Bristol as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Hannah Hog,
on 5/23/2012
Blog: Hogs Back Books Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: Olympics, Out and about, Bookseller, Independent bookshops, Add a tag
Day 3 turned out to be even more eventful than anticipated when the flame went out in Great Torrington (I bet that would happen to me if I was carrying it!).
'Most of the shops, inlcuding ours, closed for the actual passing of the Torch. It would have been nice if it could have stopped for a while, or if it could have passed through the town at the weekend so we could have made more of an event of it.'
|
0 Comments on Olympic Torch Bookshop Hop, Day Three - Exeter to Taunton as of 5/23/2012 4:01:00 PM
0 Comments on Celebrating World Teacher's Day with our Giveaway Winner as of 1/1/1900
I would definitely recommend that people go and see it, too. It was so atmospheric. Really loved it!
Great - it's not passing very close to us but will definitely try to take the children along - it looked like you had a great day.