A VILLAGE post office has closed its doors for the final time as its postmaster retires after 25 years in the role.
Rowland Hunt has worked at the post office in Bodenham, between Hereford and Leominster, since 1965, and the village gave him a round of applause as he locked up the shop for the final time.
A video shows several people from the village clapping Mr Hunt as he closed the shop at 5.30pm on Tuesday.
His father Albert Hunt took on Bodenham post office at its current location in 1965 and Rowland started working in the shop or post office as a teenager.
The post office said he has worked their all his working life, apart from one year.
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When his father retired, Rowland’s ex-wife became postmaster, and Rowland has clocked up 25 years as Postmaster.
Part of the family business was a milk round, which operated until last month.
Postmaster Rowland Hunt said earlier this month: “The past year has been bedlam due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
"Every day has been as busy as normal Christmas and this Christmas was twice as busy as normal. People wanted to stay local.
"They were doing a lot more online shopping and people have been sending parcels to family and friends that they can’t meet.
"Lots of people have been sending Easter eggs and Easter gifts recently. Lots of people are doing their banking here too.
“I am now 66. As I am of retirement age, I have decided to call it a day. I have no specific plans, but I want to spend more time seeing my grandchildren who don’t live locally.”
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Joe Francis, post office area manager, said: “We thank Rowland Hunt and his family for their very long service to the community since 1965. We wish him well for his well-earned retirement.”
The post office is currently investigating the options available which will enable services to be reinstated to the community.
Alternative branches in the area include:
- Burley Gate Post Office, Burley Gate Community Shop The Village Hall, Burley Gate, Hereford, HR1 3QR
- Marden Post Office, Marden, Hereford, HR1 3EW
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