February 2011
The Marlowes Waterstone’s book shop has closed, inevitably as they were never going to keep it and the more recent one in Riverside. But what will happen to the lovely mural painted by Chris Burke when it opened as Ottakars six or seven years back? Apparently Ottakars commissioned about 30 such murals, at a cost of about £20,000 each, depicting local scenes and famous authors from the area.

Berkhamsted’s Waterstone’s features Graham Greene.  Just in case it too closes I called in and took this photo for posterity. The sales assistant knew nothing of the mural’s history and showed no interest. Waterstone’s need to improve staff training or they too will fall a victim of e-shopping. Incidentally if Chris Burke were painting his mural today he would surely have included James Hannaway and Ed Reardon!