Forty years ago, Arshad Khan moved from London to Peterborough to take on Eastfield Road Post Office. The postmaster has no regrets as he loves serving his community.
Arshad was looking for a Post Office business opportunity with accommodation attached. He’d never been to Peterborough before, but he visited and immediately decided that he would be happy living there.
In October 1984, Arshad and his wife Zahida, settled in Peterborough and raised their three children there.
When their daughter, Saima, finished school, she joined the family business and continues to work there today. Their youngest daughter, Sonia, and son Irfan also previously worked there.
Eastfield Road Postmaster, Arshad Khan, said: “It was a very nice, quiet, area and our customers are lovely. They made us feel welcome as soon as we arrived.
“We have always enjoyed serving this community. We laugh and chat with customers and we have got to know people well – they have become friends. People who used to come in as children now have children of their own.
“We stayed open throughout Covid. People were grateful that they could stay local for Post Office services including banking on behalf of all the major high street banks and groceries.
“I’ve done 40 years, but I have no plans to retire. I’m still going strong.”
Since the Khans moved to Eastfield Road more homes have been built and there is now a university campus on one side and a college on the other. Students from University Centre Peterborough also now live in the community.
Originally the shop at 97 Eastfield Road, Peterborough, PE1 4AU, was a newsagents. Now it is a general store alongside the Post Office after modernising their store 11 years ago.
A Post Office 40 Years’ Long Service Award has been presented to Arshad Khan.
Post Office Area Manager, Paul Spry, said: “I want to sincerely thank Arshad for being the postmaster for Eastfield Road for an impressive 40 years. Their shop really is at the heart of this community. Arshad and his family are very popular with their customers and they have great rapport.”