Last post for Burley Gate couple

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A POSTMISTRESS is looking forward to licking her last stamp this spring when she retires from Burley Gate Post Office.

Gillian Hughes and husband Bernard have run the counter and adjoining newsagent for 26 years but, after twin granddaughters arrived by her son in America this winter, she says it’s time for a change.

“We have had a really lovely time here and everyone made us welcome when we came,” she said.

“But I’m 63 now and Bernard’s 65 so we just want to be able to do what we want.”

Both originally came from Walsall and have a lengthy history with Royal Mail as Bernard also retired as a postman a few years ago.

Gillian, whose branch survived a number of Post Office closures in 2008 due to its car tax facility, says the villagers have changed since then but the community spirit has not.

As a result, the couple decided not to sell the business as a going concern so they could still live on the premises, and were delighted when Philip Jones from Hilbery Garage asked if he could re-open mail services there instead.

Now the business Gillian operated seven days a week at her shop off the A465 will continue from March at a converted site nearby, while she steps down for a well-earned rest.