Darlington Lions Bookshop has raised £185,000 in 30 years

In the 26 years since formal records began, the Darlington Lions’ Bookshopshop has raised £184,875 for mostly local charities selling almost all books at just £1, or three for £2. Until recently they were 50p.

“We don’t think we’re robbing anyone, we’re just trying to encourage people to read more,” said Lions Club president Pat de Martino.

The Darlington Lions Bookshop has been in Houndgate for 30 years (Image: AMY SMITH)

The first bookshop opened 60 years ago, moving nomadically around various empty shops in the town before taking over a former DIY store in Houndgate – for a token rent but with a contribution towards maintenance.

“The landlord has been very good to us” said Fred Thompson, another bookshop volunteer.

“It’s enabled us to offer what we think is very good value.”

Fellow Lion and former president Tom Peacock, a 94-year-old retired probation officer, has been involved since the very first chapter and attended a Buckingham Palace reception where he met the Princess of Wales.

Tom Peacock chats to the Princess of Wales at Buckingham Palace (Image: MIKE AMOS)

“It’s been a brilliant concept,” he said. “We sometimes used to be in a shop for just two or three weeks before having to move on. We never expected to be in the same place for 30 years.”

Though the bookshop now operates from adjacent premises on the same site, book donations from members of the public are so handsome and so generous that members’ garages overflow as well.

Mrs de Martino denies, however, that if the Binns store directly across the road becomes vacant they’ll be looking further to extend their literary reach.

Tom Peacock outside the Darlington Lions Club Bookshop in Houndgate (Image: MIKE AMOS)

Footfall has increased still further since the Lions took to Facebook and switched to a six-day opening, Monday to Saturday.

“People aren’t supposed to be reading books any more but our experience is the total opposite. The response has been amazing and it’s delightful to see families coming in and children sitting reading” said Mrs de Martino, who has particular responsibility for the children’s section.

Children’s books which remain unsold are sent to the Lions Club in York and then on to a charity in Sri Lanka, where about 200,000 books have been received.

Though literary treasure is rare – “we keep looking out for a first edition Harry Potter” says Lion Kevin Winkworth – a Victorian family bible sold for £100. A near-new set of Encyclopaedia Britannica was on offer for £10.

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Mr Thompson remembers a customer haggling over whether he should pay 20p or 30p for a book – and then selling it for £120.

In 2023-24 alone the bookshop raised £32,447 for 26 different charities, principally St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington – “and the really great thing is that people are turning back to books,” said Mr Thompson.

The Darlington Lions Club Bookshop in Houndgate is open from 10 am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.