Dear Mr Booth - Your Majesty -

We have been intending to write to you for some time, and the nice lady in the 'King of Hay Bookshop' said she thought you would not mind. We would just like to express our thanks and great appreciation for all the great pleasure that you - by means of your wonderful bookshops - have given us over the years.

We first 'discovered' your bookshops in Hay some thirty years ago. Since then we have taken many trips over to Hay, where we have spent a great many happy hours in your bookshops. It was like beach-combing, hunting, seeking, hoping to find treasure. We loved poking around' in the dim and dusty basement or the creaky-floored upper story of the big shop, or in the corners of the specialist science fiction shop that used to be on the slope near the entrance to the castle, where we would chat to the nice lady who was then always there; and sure enough, we always did find 'treasure'!

To our great pleasure we found books we had been seeking for years, such as an old much-loved 1930's fairy story book I had once had as a child and lost; we discovered old forgotten and unexpected 'finds' of out-of-print ancient books of eastern philosophies; books on art, and cookery, classic literature, biographies, 'blood&guts' crime stories; classic science fiction books from the genre's best writers of the 'golden era'; old ones, new ones, loved ones, forgotten ones - we always found something (frequently Jots of 'somethings' !) to suit our interests.

So, we now feel that it is only right and proper that two of your devoted subjects should

offer Your Majesty our humble and grateful praise, and many thanks for your bounty. We

are indeed truly appreciative, and our full bookcases are a continuing tribute to your endeavours!So,althouglth we do miss your presence and influence in the bookshops, we both hope that you are now enjoying a wonderful and well-earned retirement.

With best wishes for the future, we remain your grateful and loyal subjects,

As booktowns create one million jobs
Hay festival is just for yobs 
Men of Hay unite
and Murdoch smite.
 Women of Hay
Go on the Pill
The Cavalry are coming 
Over the Hill

Men of Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Wales
Tell us your booktown tales,
All of us are true rural Celts,
Wear some braces as well as belts.
 Women of Hay ...
Go on the Pill
The Cavalry are coming 
Over the Hill

The Welsh Assemby and it's creation
Betrayed our much beloved nation
Our life is absolutely rural
Their sins are absolutely plural
i think we've reached the very dregs
With the Welsh Assembly Plebs
Woman of Hay. 
Go on the Pill.
The Cavalry are coming 
Over the Hill.

Once again let us praise the Lord
For the stupidity of the Wales Tourist Board
They seek only to bretray us
The International world can save us
Women of Hay,
Go on the Pill.
The Cavalry are coming 
Over the Hill.

A Pardon from the The King of Hay
will pardon 3 presidents of the USA.
The gasbag as had his day
More importatn than the Dutch
Are Caio Evans and Lord Sutch.
CHORUS: Women of Hay ...


            by Merrry Jerry, a Hay-on-Wye Citizen of over 50 years.