End of an era as family prepares to leave post office it has run for 100 years

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Couple hope the post office and shop in Ashleworth, between Tewkesbury and Gloucester, will be kept going by someone else

Pat and Rod Riach’s decision to soon stop running Ashleworth Post Office has raised question marks about the future of the business.

The couple have run it for 32 years and the family on Mrs Riach’s side has run it for 100 years.


And while they now want to retire and plan to sell the shop and post office, they are keen to see the business they put so much effort into carry on.

Mrs Riach said: “Our children have their own homes, families and jobs so the time has come to pass the business on to someone with new ideas.

“The village is growing, with 35 new homes, and is very supportive of our move and will welcome new owners warmly.”

The business is on the market for £425,000, though Mrs Riach added: “These things are always open to negotiation.”


She admitted that villagers feared things might not be as good in the post office once they had retired but she hoped someone might come in and do just as good a job.

The history of the place is important to her.


She said: “My great grandad, Mr Taylor, was granted the post office when he lost an arm in an accident. It then transferred to my gran and gramp, Mr and Mrs Saunders, then my parents, Mrs and Mrs Westbrook and then to us.


“The name changed each time as a girl took it over in her married name.”

She added: “We’re willing to sell it as a going concern. To sell it without being that would be a last resort.


“We’re hoping someone will snap it up. It’s lovely.
“Part of the living area is a grade 2 listed building and there is a cottage joined on that could be rented out so there is a lot of potential.”

Reflecting on having spent more than three decades running the business, the 60-year-old said: “It’s been a wonderful life for our family but our grown-up children, Robert and Kim, are not interested in taking it on.”