Sad farewell as post office closes for the final time (From Worcester News)

Sad farewell as post office closes for the final time

12:50pm Tuesday 2nd December 2008 in News By Lucy Tatchell

CUSTOMERS have said an emotional farewell to a village post office which has closed its doors for the last time.

Rushwick Post Office is one of the 10 in south Worcestershire closing as part of a national programme.

Despite petitions and letters from users, post office bosses failed to find a reason to keep the branch open.

Sub-postmistress Cath Speake said: “Everyone has been wonderful. I have had flowers, gifts and cards.

“I would like to thank all of my customers who have been very supportive. Everyone has done everything they could.”

At the end of August, Post Office Ltd announced its plans to axe post offices in the county as part of a national programme to reduce the number of branches by 2,500.

After the announcement there was a six-week period of public consultation.

Nearly 500 people registered their objections to the closure of Rushwick Post Office and many turned up to a public meeting to question post office bosses about the proposal.

But on Wednesday, October 29, it was announced the branch would close.

The decision means residents have lost their village shop as well.

Yesterday Rushwick resident Colin Jenkins, aged 83, used the branch for the last time.

“I am very disappointed,” he said.

“Not for myself because I can get about with the car, but it is other elderly people who depend on this for their pension.

“I am a member of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboats Institution) and for years they have always had a collection box here. We used to get hundreds of pounds a year and it is another outlet for donations gone.”

Wickhamford Post Office in Evesham also closed yesterday and the following branches shut last week: l Church Lench in Evesham.

l Poolbrook in Malvern.

l Pinvin near Pershore.

l Hanley Castle, near Worcester.

l Cleeve Prior in Evesham.

Link Top Post Office in Worcester Road, Malvern, will close on Tuesday, February 3, and Bengeworth Post Office in Evesham closes on Monday, February 9.

It is not yet known when Worcester’s Bilford Road branch will close or when the post office in Callow End will move into the village shop as an outreach service.