George Marrin (1896-1991) founded the firm of G & D
I Marrin in 1946 with Doris Irene Marrin (1916-2001)
when forced to take early retirement from the Civil Service
due to ill health
He had been advised to move away from London and after
trips to the coast, settled on Folkestone and opened
his first shop here in 1948, at that time selling new
books, with some second hand. Four years later he moved
to Hythe to found Kipps Bookshop and indulge his first
love of antiquarian and second-hand books, prints and
maps. With help from his brother Charles he expanded
to Canterbury where he ran another shop.
The 1950's were hard times for the small bookseller
and after some retrenching he decided to sell the shops
and continue bookselling from home. In 1962 George and
Doris were offered the ground floor of the premises in
Folkestone which the business occupies today. In 1970
the upper floors became vacant and George and Doris and
their two boys John and Patrick, moved in.
The family and the bookshop thrived in the elegant Victorian
house situated in the centre of town and just off the
Leas, Folkestone's famous cliff-top walk. The mild air
of Folkestone was good for George's health and he finally
retired in 1986 on his 90th birthday. He continued
to enjoy living above the shop he loved until he died
in 1991. Doris, who had been for some time retired from
teaching, began helping John and Patrick, who were
now running the business. She was a great asset and made
many friends among George's customers until her death
in July 2001.
In December 2003, in order for John to be near his in-laws,
the partnership was amicably dissolved and John moved
the First World War side of the business to new premises
in Ford, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, where he will continue
to issue Great War catalogues and specialize in books
on gardening, horticulture and fishing. He can be contacted
by telephone on 01890 820500, by fax on 01890 820770
or by email at john@marrinrarebooks.fsnet.co.uk
Now Patrick runs the Folkestone shop with the assistance
of full time shop manager John Powell.
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