Things have been tough lately in Willesden Green with stabbings, drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and more, but today the mist cleared, the sun came out and friendly crowds started milling around the entrance to Willesden Green Station. Spotting the crowd the station's regular saxophonist took no time at all to unpack his instrument and soon cool jazz added to the atmosphere.
The occasion was the opening of the meanwhile space, Tiny Bookshop. mainly managed by 16 to 25 year olds. Outside the shop (only room for about 6 people at a time) there was crochet, tote bag printing and more. The registered charity is looking for donations of books, vinyl records and CDs and anyone with an hour or two to spare to help run it.
The Willesden Bookshop
As Jolene Skordis says in the video above, this is the first bookshop in Willesden since the council failed to provide space in the new Willesden Green Library 14 years ago when the old library that included the Willesden Bookshop was demolished. There was a hard-fought campaign to keep it open and it was good to meet Helen, one of the Willesden Green Bookshop's key staff members at today's opening. The Tiny Bookshop is a fraction of the size of her old workplace but a glimmer of hope. Martin Redston, a leader of the fight for the bookshop is no longer with us, but I am sure would have been proud of the community's support for a new, young venture, today.
