Vere departs News From Nowhere radical bookshop after 45 years

A steadfast member of the radical bookselling community is to retire after 45 years at Liverpool store News From Nowhere.

Mandy Vere has been working at the radical bookshop, run by a women's co-operative, since 1976 but has now made the decision to leave and focus on other political endeavours and her grandson. She is the longest serving member of the shop's staff.

Vere became a regular two years after the store's 1974 opening and started helping out informally, securing a full time job there when she was 21. She said: "I realised that this was my vocation really — I loved bookselling, I loved the books, obviously the politics — all right up my street. I did have one other job once — I worked at a museum when I was about 20 - a very short footnote in my life."

In 1996 the shop moved to its current five-storey premises on Bold Street, a major hub for independent shops. The shop suffered fascist attacks in the 1980s and in 1996 the staff had to fight to keep their building after property developers threatened to evict them.

"Liverpool is a very political city, and people absolutely love the bookshop," Vere said. "It wears it's heart on its sleeve. We have books about every subject under the sun but always with a social justice message. We've got loads of young people coming in at the moment, buying their badges and flags, buying their books on feminism and anti-racism. There's a lovely vibe to the place. It's much more than a bookshop."

The shop is part of the Alliance of Radical Bookshops, which includes independents such as Five Leaves in Nottingham and Gay's the Word and Housmans in London. The co-op structure of News from Nowhere sees all members of staff take part in all aspects of bookselling equally, including managing the tills, cleaning, stock taking and training new workers. The team has been heavily involved in campaigning and protesting against both local and global issues including the Iraq war and Section 28.

Vere said: "I never thought I would want to retire because I love my job, I love being a bookseller, I love News From Nowhere, I love Liverpool, I love all our customers and I love finding the right books for people — but having said that there's a number of things that have come together in my life. I've become a granny so I'm very involved with my grandson, and I was on furlough for part of the year last year. When you get a bit older it does take it out of you, running so fast. I'm very involved in campaigns — we're trying to stop the arms fair that's coming to Liverpool in October, there's a lot I'd like to continue doing with feminism and women's rights campaigns. I also love walking and bird watching — so there's lots of things I want to do more of, all the things you can't manage when you're working full time."

When the shop starts recruiting for a new member of staff, applicants should be "very efficient", have a love of the politics the shop reflects and want to work to being a full member of the co-operative.

Vere announced her retirement on Twitter to an outpouring of support and gratitude from the bookselling community. The shop surprised her with a window display dedicated to her favourite books. She will depart on 31st August, celebrating with a meal with colleagues, followed by a bigger party in the near future.

"I'm sure I will come in and help out whenever they need someone, but I've got a lot of things in my life I love," she said. "It's a big thing to leave when it's your life's work."