Postmistress near Machynlleth set to retire after 50 years
A postmistress near Machynlleth is set to retire after 50 years of service.
Lilwen Humphreys has been a pillar of the community at Cemmaes Road Post Office since May 1, 1975, and has decided to retire after her 80th birthday.
A celebratory afternoon tea will be held in her honour, where family, friends, and loyal customers are invited to share fond memories with her.
Mrs Humphreys said: "Running Cemmaes Road Post Office has been my way of life for 50 years, and it is my life.
"I know I and my family have done our best for the community,y and I also know that they appreciate it."
She added: "Running a Post Office is not only about selling stamps, sending parcels, etc, it's being part of a village and its community, making it home."
Mrs Humphreys took on the role of postmistress in 1975 while raising her children.
She and her husband, Arwel, who were milk retailers, saw the potential in running the post office and eventually bought the property, moving their family and the post office into a unit.
For many years, they also ran a village shop and did milk and newspaper deliveries.
During the Covid pandemic, Mrs Humphreys utilised her old contacts to get supplies for elderly customers who did not want to leave the village.
Reflecting on the changes she has seen over the years, Mrs Humphreys said: "I've seen massive changes from the job I took on originally.
"Gone are the days of pension books, savings stamps and books.
"It's now mostly banking money in, money out, cheques in, it's still interesting but a definite change of work."
However, the time has come for Mrs Humphreys to retire.
She said: "I can't work forever.
"I know it is now time to retire before technology beats me as I know that a new computer system will be introduced at some time in the future."
She had hoped to find someone to take on the branch, even willing to sell her home to someone wanting to take on the Post Office.
However, this has not happened.
She expressed her regret, saying: "I'm truly sorry that I've let my customers down by closing and am very sad about that."
Post Office regional manager, Rachel Lawler, said: "It's incredible that Lilwen has served her beloved community for 50 years and that she's carried on well past the time that most people retire.
"It's a close-knit community, and Lilwen has been at the heart of the village for five decades.
"It's only now, on the eve of her 80th birthday, that Lilwen is now ready to step down as postmistress.
"I wish her a very well-earned retirement and I hope that she has a great celebration to mark these three major milestones that she is achieving this month."
The Cemmaes Road Post Office will close on May 1.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
Former Stirling care home site could be sold off for housing
The facility was briefly used for people recuperating from Covid more recently, but was once the focus of a campaign to save it from the axe. A former Stirling care home site, which was once at the heart of a heated local campaign, looks to be on the cusp of being sold for housing. Beech Gardens, off Polmaise Road in Torbrex, is situated within the original curtilage of the listed Batterflatts House and was purpose-built as a care facility. In recent years the home was closed and declared surplus as a part of the reconfiguration of care services across the Forth Valley, following the creation of the Stirling Care Village. In 2009, however, it was at the centre of a local campaign to keep it open after it was threatened with the axe in council cuts. While the heated battle resulted in it being given a stay of execution, its use was eventually phased out and it was used for respite care for a period. During the Covid pandemic it was upgraded, along with Allan Lodge, to support NHS patients in recovery being moved out of the hospital environment. NHS used the facility briefly, and the building was returned to the council. In a report due before a special meeting of Stirling Council on Thursday, officials said: 'Since the pandemic, the property has attracted interest from several parties, from within the council, and a formal asset transfer request was subsequently withdrawn. 'Current running costs for 2024-2025 were £32,953, which includes £11,641 of rates, £6,404 standing charges on utilities, and £14,908 on security. 'An external marketing agent was appointed to market several council-owned surplus properties and development sites, including Beech Gardens.' The officials said any changes to the site must protect the character and appearance of the designated conservation area and the adjacent listed building - with a single-story structure essential. Any future development should also prioritise the use of the existing building, unless it can be demonstrated that the structural condition makes retention 'unfeasible at a reasonable cost and all reasonable efforts to retain, repair and reuse the building have been exhausted'. The site is said to be 'well-suited for residential purposes, including private housing, social housing, or residential care'. At the closing date in March, there were five offers received, ranging from £500,000 to £150,000. Two offers had no suspensive conditions, or the offer was unconditional. Two offers were subject to either condition surveys or title and site services investigations. One offer was subject to obtaining satisfactory funding. The report added: 'Given its position as the most financially advantageous and that it is not subject to any suspensive conditions, it is recommended that Urban Nest Scotland Limited's offer be taken forward as the preferred bidder. 'Urban Nest Scotland Ltd proposes to develop the site for private housing and is in a position to progress with the conclusion of missives on the council approval. 'Urban Nest has held initial discussions with the Planning team regarding their development plans. 'This disposal will result in the release of the property, the achievement of the capital receipt, and the reduction of revenue budget pressure in this fiscal year.' At Thursday's special meeting, councillors will be asked to approve the preferred bidder and disposal of Beech Gardens.
North Wales Chronicle
11 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
New postmaster at Caernarfon post office for the ‘near-term'
The post office is to be operated by franchisee RF Retail, under postmaster Richard Fleetwood who has more than 20 years' experience in retail and the Post Office, and whose father and grandfather were also both postmasters. An email from the Post Office, shown to the Chronicle, read that this arrangement will take place 'in the near term' until the branch's long-term future is secured. The email added: 'Franchising the branch now will enable us to unlock funds to increase postmaster remuneration sooner, while minimizing disruption for the local community. 'In practice, this means that the branch will continue to operate from the same premises while the long-term permanent proposal is confirmed, with customers being able to access the same products and services with the same opening hours. 'In parallel, we will work with RF Retail over the remainder of this financial year to review the right long-term premises for your branch, which will either be at the existing site or a new site nearby. 'In the event of a new site being proposed, any move to a new location is unlikely to be before spring 2026 and would be subject to local public consultation in line with our Principles of Community Engagement.' Mr Fleetwood operates six Post Office branches, while his mother also had several senior roles managing sites across the UK. RF Retail's Post Office journey began when it opened its first store in the north-east of England in September 2020, meanwhile. Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said: 'I welcome the news that a prospective franchisee has come forward with the intention of running Caernarfon Post Office, providing a short-term solution to the uncertainty facing the branch. 'It should be appreciated that throughout this campaign, local people wanted to see Post Office services safeguarded in Caernarfon town centre. 'They place an immense value on the convenience of being able to pop into their local branch whether for their business or personal needs. 'Whilst this announcement provides a certain level of certainty, there remains a number of questions surrounding the long-term sustainability of the branch. 'Has there been any assessment of the specific banking needs of the local community, specifically, what provision will be in place to meet the needs of Welsh-language customers? 'What options are being explored to source a long-term location for the branch, including access needs? 'Above all else, what assurances have been provided to current staff about their future employment? 'If, as has been suggested, the branch will temporarily remain at the current location, will staff be retained? 'I will be seeking further clarity about the exact business model going forward to ensure a sustainable, long-term outcome for the local community – one which puts the needs of local Post Office customers first.''
Reuters
12 hours ago
- Reuters
Alaska Airlines CEO expects full-year profit despite pricing struggles
NEW DELHI, June 3 (Reuters) - Alaska Airlines (ALK.N), opens new tab CEO Ben Minicucci said the company's pricing power has not recovered yet even as its bookings have stabilised following economic uncertainty that led to volatility in the first quarter. Still, Minicucci said the company expects to report a profit this year. In the current quarter, the Seattle-based carrier's earnings are shaping up along expected lines, he told Reuters on the sidelines of an IATA airline summit in New Delhi. Like most U.S. airlines, Alaska pulled its full-year financial forecast in April as President Donald Trump's trade war created the biggest uncertainty for the industry since the COVID-19 pandemic. With little clarity on how consumers would behave in the face of a potentially worsening economy, airlines said it was difficult to accurately forecast their business. Soft travel demand, meanwhile, has dampened U.S. airfares, which declined at their fastest pace in 16 months in April from a year ago, government data shows. "We're filling airplanes, just not at the yields we'd like," Minicucci said. Alaska has forecast an adjusted profit of $1.15 per share to $1.65 per share in the quarter ending June. The company's performance, thus far, is "solidly" in the forecast range, he said. The pullback in U.S. travel demand has been the sharpest among price-conscious consumers. Demand for high-end travel remains the "bright spot," Minicucci said. Alaska, which completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines last year, is looking to drive up the share of premium travel in its revenue. The carrier will launch its first-ever transatlantic service next year, with a non-stop flight between Seattle and Rome. It is also adding more upscale seats on its aircraft. Premium cabins are estimated to account for 29% of its seats over the next three years, up from 25% at present, he said. The company, however, is having to deal with seat supply chain problems. Minicucci said seat manufacturers will need to expand production to keep up with strong demand. "They're oversubscribed right now," he said. Minicucci said he is encouraged by safety and quality improvements at planemaker Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab. Alaska had to ground its fleet of MAX 9 aircraft last year after a door plug missing key bolts blew off one of the carrier's new jets at 16,000 feet. While the planemaker still has a lot of work ahead of it, he said it continues to make improvements "quarter over quarter." Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg recently told trade publication Aviation Week that the company aimed to secure certification for the smallest and largest of its best-selling 737 MAX aircraft - the MAX 7 and MAX 10 - from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration by the end of this year. The MAX 7 and MAX 10 have been delayed in part due to concerns with the engine de-icing system. Alaska is one of the airlines waiting for the MAX 10. Minicucci said the jet is not part of the carrier's plans until 2027. "We don't want to put pressure on Boeing," he said. "We want them to follow their own certification process."
