Bermondsey’s Woolfson & Tay bookshop celebrates first birthday

The independent bookshop was launched by writer and lecturer Shivaun Woolfson and business consultant Frances Tay on 11 September 2010.

"Our passion is intact, our hopefulness is intact, our ethos is intact," wrote Frances Tay in a blogpost which was also displayed in printed form at the entrance to the shop.

"We haven't stopped trying; trying to do better events, trying to have a varied programme, trying to deliver quality and value in what we do – whether it's cooking and serving simple Asian lunches, hosting an exhibition launch, promoting an author event, cranking up potential ideas to do collaborations with local community groups..."

Authors visiting the shop during the last twelve months for events have included Maureen Duffy and Polly Toynbee. Among prominent local authors giving talks were Rupert Smith and John Constable.

This month Bermondsey funeral director Barry Albin-Dyer will be in conversation with local-based religious affairs journalist Greg Watts. At the end of the month BBC Far East correspondent Jill McGivering will be making a second visit in a year when she discusses her new novel.

Woolfson & Tay's celebration comes just a week after four well-known independent bookshops have closed and Waterstone's announced major changes in its marketing policy.