A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS FOR FUNDRAISER

Alan has now retired after running a charity bookstall in Plumpton for 14 years.

He became involved when Plumpton Primary School started a project to provide new books for old, partly through selling old ones to buy new.

He then ran bookstalls at local jumble sales and it was when he manned one at a Plumpton Rugby Club event that he noticed how large quantities of interesting books were being dumped after failing to sell.

He realised that most of the books went unnoticed because they were either thrown haphazardly into boxes or stacked high on top of each other, and decided that he could do better than that.

He set about amassing a collection of books that he saved from other sales and begged from local residents.

His profile gradually increased until by 2001 he had a stock of around 5,000 books and his activities were growing and growing.

He attended about 15 events a year and received not a penny for his labours.

Causes that benefited from Alan's efforts included local schools and pre-school groups, youth organisations, St Peter and St James and St Catherine's Hospices, local clubs, societies and churches, the village hall and pavilion, St John Ambulance and more.

In all, he raised around 14,000, selling about 50,000 books at prices anyone could afford.

In the early days Alan worked for Barclays Bank and the bank donated 1 for every 1 he raised personally.

Now Alan feels it is time to call it a day.

His long-suffering wife, Jenny, says there is much to be done about the house and she would again like to get some use of the garage that was always full to overflowing with books.

Alan freely admits that he is still not an expert on books, but he has developed a sixth sense to sniff out the odd volume that had more value.

In this way he once discovered a first edition copy of Modesty Blue and its sequel and got 45 for them.

When he finally retired, local residents organised a farewell party for him in the village hall as a mark of gratitude.

His only regret is that no-one else has come forward to continue the enterprise.