Last month Christina Foyle died. She ran the world famous Charing Cross Bookshop for many many years, in her own distinctive, autocratic and eccentric manner. Her death has inevitably raised questions about the future of the shop, of especial importance to all interested in military books, because of the excellence of its military departments (managed by Adrian Simmons). Christina Foyle's nephew, Christopher Foyle, has been involved with the business for many years (he is 56 years old) and has been quoted as saying he will not sell it 'as long as I am running it' but will introduce reforms. But it seems everything turns on Christina Foyle's Will, and Christopher is reported as saying 'her Will is complicated and it will be several months before we know the details. I can't tell you why it is complicated, but it will become apparent in the fullness of time. I cannot categorically say that the shop will not be sold, and I am only a Caretaker-Director until we know who the Controller, or Controllers, will be'. Christina owned 60% of the shares, Christopher 16%, Christopher's brother Anthony another 16%, and Christina's 90-year-old sister Winifred the remaining 8%. Last year's sales by the bookshop were £ 11,500,000 and the shop's site is said to be worth over £ 15m (and more property close by, which obviously would also be extremely valuable, is also said to be owned by Christina). Back to Greenhill Military Book News No. 92 Table of Contents Back to Greenhill Military Book News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Greenhill Books This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com