Booksellers Association names Fleur Sinclair as new president 

The Booksellers Association (BA) has named Fleur Sinclair, owner of Sevenoaks Bookshop in Kent, as its new president. She takes over from Hazel Broadfoot, owner of Village Books in Dulwich, as Broadfoot’s term ends.

Sinclair, who has been vice president of the BA since 2020, will be supported in her new role by Mairi Oliver of Lighthouse, Edinburgh’s Radical Bookshop. Debbie James of Kibworth Books will continue in the role of vice president alongside Oliver. Sinclair and Oliver take up their new positions on Tuesday 30th April 2024, with terms lasting two years.

On her appointment, Sinclair said: “I’m feeling both privileged and slightly daunted to be taking over BA president; Hazel Broadfoot brought so much experience and wisdom to the role, all delivered with enviable calm and poise.

“But I am so very happy to be a part of the bookselling tribe, and I intend in my tenure to do all I can to help all booksellers maintain our valuable positions and show off all we do and are capable of – whether that’s to soon-to-be customers, would-love-to-be-booksellers, publishers or politicians. Exciting times!” 

Meryl Halls, managing director of the BA, said: “We are delighted to announce Fleur Sinclair as the BA’s new president. A vivacious, creative, collegiate, thoughtful and compassionate bookseller, Fleur will be a fantastic successor to Hazel.

“We have been incredibly lucky to have such a pool of bookselling talent working with us at the BA over many years, and I know that Fleur will pick up on all the priorities Hazel has worked on in her fearless and authoritative presidency, as well as adding her own particular vision and perspective. We are deeply grateful to Hazel for her dedication during her supportive, calm and wise tenure – it’s been a pleasure working with her and we shall miss her counsel.” 

She added that “we are also delighted to have Mairi Oliver join us as vice president, working alongside the peerless Debbie James to support Fleur as she begins her term as president and to champion all our members and the wider high street across the nations of the UK and in Ireland. In addition, the BA is delighted to announce, as part of the changes at our AGM, the election of three new Advisory Council Members – Polly Jaffe, Jaffe & Neale, Chipping Norton; Caoilfhionn Fay, Dubray; Angie Crawford, Waterstones. We are thrilled to have the expertise and experience of such booksellers joining us.” 

Oliver commented: “It’s a real honour to be invited to become BA vice president.The last few years on the Advisory Council have offered such a huge insight into the tireless workings of the BA and the experiences of booksellers at the coalface of an ever changing industry.

“Having seen Fleur Sinclair and Debbie James lead on so many conversations around inclusivity, sustainability, creativity and collaboration in the book trade I couldn’t be more excited to support them as vice president and hopefully bring to the table some fresh perspectives both as Scottish bookseller and as a bookshop member of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers.”