HARBOUR Bookshop in Kingsbridge is changing hands after 23 years, but will stay as the same place we all know and love.

Pat Abrehart has owned Harbour Bookshop for nearly 23 years, buying the business in 1994 after being a teacher in Bristol. She now says ‘the time has come’ for her to retire.

‘You spend a lot of time on your feet’ explained Pat, ‘and you have to be mentally agile’. Speaking about her customers, she said: ‘You get to know them well, having a chat when they come in, many have come to feel like friends over the years and I’m going to miss them.

‘We’ve had such lovely customers, so many friends. I can honestly say that in 20 years, we have had hardly anyone unpleasant and it has been a privilege and a pleasure to sell to people who love books.

‘I’ve worked with such lovely people too. Louise Sanders, who has been with me for 21 years, is staying on after I retire.’

She has plans to spend her retirement with her husband David, travelling around in a motor caravan. ‘My son lives in Prague and we have a mad plan to drive through France and Austria to Prague and then back through Croatia and former Yugoslavia and down the Dalmatian Coast. We might go on a few shorter trips first’, she laughed.

Harbour Bookshop will stay as Harbour Bookshop after Pat leaves, with Jane Fincham taking over the business. Previously Jane taught medical students their bedside manners in Derriford, Plymouth, and is ‘super excited’ to be taking over the shop.

Pat has managed to avoid the rising rents that plague a lot of high street bookshops by taking her father’s advice all those years ago and buying the freehold of the building, renting it back to Jane when she takes over.

Pat’s last day will be this Monday, February 27, the shop will be closed for stocktaking on Tuesday, February 28, and Jane will open for the first time on Wednesday, March 1. Pat is inviting all her customers and friends to a ‘farewell drink and browse’ on Saturday, February 25, between 3-5.30pm.