Village Postmaster Retires After Over Three Decades Of Service
Written by HFM News on 6th May 2022
The Postmaster in Great Glen has stepped down after 33 years service.
Sue Parkinson took over running the branch from her father, who bought the business back in 1958, and is thanking villagers for their support and friendship over the years.
She said: “I’ve been involved in the Post Office for as long as I can remember.
“I used to help, delivering papers and telegrams, and emptying the coins from phone boxes. I would’ve been 9 or 10 years old.”
Sue Parkinson
Despite working in the shop throughout her youth, Sue never planned to take over the business, but family tragedy intervened and she stepped in to help her dad run the shop.
Sue, who has run the Post Office with husband Graham, said: “I went to university to qualify as a solicitor, and did that for years, but then my mother died, and my father fell ill.
“I knew the business, so I stepped in to keep it running until my father decided what to do.
“Over the years the village has grown, and we don’t know every customer anymore. But you’re still the hub – if somebody’s lost a dog or needs a new cleaning person, you’re the first place they come to.
“We’ve always been there to help people, and we’ll always make sure we’re doing the right thing for them. We’ve also had some amazing staff, some who have been here for decades and have become like family.
“I want to thank the community enormously for their support and friendship. You’re nothing unless you’ve got the customers and we’ve had the most wonderful customers over the years.”
Sue and Graham have decided to go for a change of pace, selling the shop in the hope of starting a smaller business.
Sue and Graham Parkinson with family and friends
Post Office Area Manager Caroline Witham-Grange thanked Sue for her huge length of service, saying: “Great Glen has been well served by Sue and Graham over the years, and I know they’ll be dearly missed.
“During the pandemic, they went above and beyond to support the community, doing what they could to make sure everyone was safe and had what they needed.
“Sue is a fantastic Postmaster and on behalf of Post Office, I want to thank her and wish her and Graham all the best.”
Great Glen Post Office will remain open under new ownership.
