Legendary Southport book shop owner passes away

A Southport bookshop owner who helped cement a town centre store as one of the UK’s most famous literary spots has sadly passed away.

Broadhursts Bookshop staff said they were heartbroken to announce the death of their boss and friend Laurie Hardman.

Described as the very heart & soul of Broadhursts for many years, Laurie was well known in the literary world and dozens of authors, bookshop fans and residents have paid tribute in the hours since his passing was announced earlier today.

Speaking in 2018 Laurie said: “I started collecting books when I was very young.

“After university, I worked at a local bank to please my father. He thought it would be respectable but after enduring it for twelve months I thought sod this, I want to sell books.”

In 1987, on the death of Charles Broadhurst, president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association and founder of the Market Street shop, Hardman took the helm, continuing his old boss’s penchant for inviting authors, like the fastasy novelist Terry Pratchett.

“Terry was a lovely man. He flew into Woodvale (RAF base) with his secretary, got here about three o’clock and signed solidly ’til eight o’clock. They were queueing down the road and round the block.”

A spokesperson for Broadhursts said “Laurie will be much missed in the months & years to come.”