IT WAS the last post for three village post offices as they stopped trading for the final time.
Branches in Staverton, Newnham and Badby all closed at 1pm last Thursday.
In Staverton a small event was organised to mark the closure and to thank the postmistress Christina Yates for her work.
Mrs Yates said: “I feel very sad but I feel angr
y at the Post Office for closing me.
“I’m going to miss my customers very much – they’ve been the best customers ever.
“I couldn’t have asked for better ones and I would like them to know how grateful I am for the cards, flowers and other presents.
“It’s been more than a job – whenever a customer didn’t come in I went to make sure they were OK.”
As Mrs Yates’ deadline approached, people from the village, including members of Staverton Parish Council, gathered and presented her with gifts, including a watch, purse and umbrella, bought with a collection.
At Newnham Post Office Stores postmaster Barry Pinson closed the post office section at 1pm, although the shop, which Mr Pinson will continue to run, stayed open until its usual closing time.
He said: “There’s a lot of mixed feelings.
“We have come to accept it because we’ve known about it for a while now.”
Mr Pinson has run the post office for eight years. Its closure has meant he will take over running the shop, meaning two part-time shop workers have lost their jobs.
Barbara Douglas, postmistress in Badby, said: “It’s quite a strange feeling but I want to thank my customers for the flowers and cards they’ve been giving me.
“I will miss them all, but I’ll still see them around the village.”
Church Stowe Post Office, run by Hazel Bedford, is due to close at 1pm today (Thursday).
The full article contains 315 words and appears in Daventry Express newspaper.
