The Book Club (Booksellers)

Hello Nicholas. I remember The Book Club. I was also about 10 at that time. Sorry no pictures though. How long did you live in Crowborough? I lived there until about 22 - around 1965. Philip

Hi, I too have no pics from when living in Crowborough, however, if anybody has it’ll be one of 2 guys both on Memories of Crowborough/Rotherfield Facebook group, either Paul Mayo or Robert Pitts. Coincidentally enough, this very morning, 9th August 2019, on Desert Island Discs the guest was Sir Tim Waterstone, of Waterstones fame, who, I didn’t know or realise, was brought up in Crowborough, his interest in books was fueled by Miss Santoro at The Book Club in Crowborough when it opened in 1946, his dream started there and reached fruition in 1982! Most interesting, and such a small world!!

I lived in Winchelsea after I was first born and in the mid to late 50's my family moved to Crowborough and we lived over the Book Club until the early 60's. From the Book Club we moved to Little Luxford, Eridge Rd., (demolished and now seniors houses, I believe) and in '71 I moved to Kent. In 1974 I emigrated to Canada.

Not sure if you remember C.V. Fieldbuss - Tobacconist & Confectioner on London Rd. just down from the Cross? A very good school friend has owned the shop for the last 43 years. If you ever visit Crowborough go say hello to Mike Fitt.

Hello Nicholas. After hearing Tim Waterstone on Desert Island Discs I embarked on a search for Miss Santoro which led me here. I remember her vividly, a diminutive figure with greying hair and metal-rimmed glasses, always dressed in a tweed suit. I remember your father too, a tall man with dark hair who wore a tweed jacket – and your beautiful sister Penelope, who went to the same ballet class as I did at Hookstead School on Tuesday afternoons. (If I'm not mistaken she was a fellow pupil at Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School: I've identified someone in the 1961 school photo who looks just as I remember her. She would have been two years younger than me.)

But back to The Book Club, where my brother and I spent many happy hours, and most of our pocket money, on Saturdays. The record shop in St John's Road, close to Crowborough Cross, was another favourite haunt. My family lived in Green Lane from 1953, and although my brother and I moved away in 1975 and 1965 respectively our parents stayed in the same house until they went into care homes in the noughties.

I'm afraid I haven't got any photos of downtown Crowborough but I hope you'll be happy to know that someone else has fond memories of The Book Club.

Polly Fallows

You have all been so kind in putting your memories about the Book Club onto this webpage, and I have been most delinquent in checking in to see who has made time to comment.....my apologies!

I was in Crowborough until the late sixties having moved from above the Book Club to Little Luxford on Eridge Road. LL was demolished many years ago. I left the UK for Canada back in the early 70's, but my father continued to live in Crowborough with my step mother, Eva Elliot until his death in '79.

If anyone is interested in contacting me, please email me at :klkndb8@gmail.com

I am most interested in chatting with Sir Tim about the days at the Book Club. I understand he wishes for privacy but if anyone has a way for me to say hello to him (especially as my father worked for Miss. Santoro for many years), please let me know.

Polly.........this is Nick. Please contact me on klkndb8@gmail.com