Words: Anne Akers
Farsley is to welcome its latest independent shop next month with the opening of Truman Books in the former Bond’s on Town Street.
After more than two decades working in the travel industry and frequently jetting out to the Far East from her London home, Amanda Truman had to put her career on hold because of the pandemic.
But with little hope of a quick return to normality for travellers, she decided to have a complete change and did what nearly every book lover dreams of doing, she decided to buy her own bookshop – and chose Farsley.
A graduate of Leeds University, she spent some time in the city before returning to London to work, though kept in touch with her friends up here.
It was one of those friends who suggested she open her shop in Farsley, which has become a haven for independent shops and the empty Bond’s was an ideal place.
With the shopfitters now hard at work and Amanda putting together the stock of books, including fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, she’s aiming to open on June 19, during Independent Bookshop Week.
“Farsley is a great place, I’ve had a lot of interest from businesses here, including the Constitutional and Old Woollen and Linda, who ran Bond’s for so many years, is very supportive,” she said.
“It’s very exciting, I’m planning a children’s section downstairs, author events and talks and of course there will be coffee and cake.”
With Covid restrictions, the official opening will be low-key, but Amanda promises there will be a warm welcome from mid-June onwards.
Can’t wait to come and visit when it opens up! Farsley is becoming a really cool hub of independent shops now-it’s such a cool place to live and glad we moved up from London ourselves to get away to the fresh air (and rain!)