A WELL KNOWN figure in St Andrews is to retire after spending the last 37 years as an independent bookseller in the town.

Margaret Squires, of the Quarto Bookshop, said yesterday that she had reached retiring age “several years ago” and most of her staff could now draw their old age pensions.

She added that times had become harder for the independent book seller, with the arrival of the internet, the appearance of dedicated charity book shops, and the cherry picking of best- sellers by supermarkets all taking their toll.

“The Quarto could have carried on for another few years as it was, but was obviously going downhill.”

“The time has come to hand over the premises to a younger person, with new ideas, and enthusiasms.”

Margaret said that she is now selling off everything: second-hand books at half price and new books at a third off cover price.

Customers who may miss the old Quarto can always buy a copy of In Quarto, a collection of Margaret’s columns for The Scottish Book Collector on the joys and minor irritations of independent bookselling in St Andrews.

Meanwhile, Margaret will be heading for the hills —the Corbetts this time— since she completed the Munros in 2004.