WITH village post offices and stores closing all over the country it is great that Staunton has proved the exception and has warmly welcomed Mr and Mrs Paul Penman as the new owners of Staunton Post Office and stores following the retirement of the previous owners.

Paul and Aileen and their three small children, Tom, aged seven, Laura, five and Emily, four, moved into the premises nearly six weeks ago and the business was able to continue uninterrupted. They were not complete strangers to the village having moved to Staunton four years ago. Paul previously ran his own business, an employment agency in Gloucester and Aileen had worked with a finance company for nine years.

The whole property is in need of extensive renovation and improvement and work is to begin within the next six weeks with a complete refit of the shop and post office, during this time they will continue to trade as normal. Already they have extended the hours of opening and are open to suggestions from their customers as to their requirements.

During the settling in period they are receiving most welcome help from Aileen's father in the shop which stocks all the usual groceries, wines, spirits and cigarettes, magazines and newspapers, stationary, a dry cleaning facility and a delivery service if required.

The three children all attend Staunton and Corse Church of England School and are already quite at home at the shop. I am sure everyone will join me in wishing Paul and Aileen every success and welcome them most warmly.

The meeting of the Staunton and District Over 60's Club followed a very sad occasion when several members of the club had just attended the funeral of one of its members, Mrs Joan Bates of Ashleworth. A highly respected member, who will be very much missed.

A day visit to Weston-Super-Mare was blessed with lovely weather marred only by the traffic jam on the homeward journey.

Winners in Corse and Staunton Village Hall "100 Club" draw for August were; 1st Mrs Turner, 2nd Mr Harley, 3rd Mr Miles, 4th Corse Sequence Dance Club.