DJ Jagger, a popular DJ with Heart Radio, has attended a community celebration to mark Rhoose Post Office being fully back at the heart of this Welsh village, with new couple Cerian and Joel Preece.
New postmistress, Cerian, who loves listening to DJ Jagger on his Jagger and Woody radio programme on Heart Wales, cheekily asked Simon Jagger if he could give a call out for her shop. Instead, he kindly offered to do an official opening.
Today (13/5) DJ Jagger “cut the ribbon” to mark the return of a full-time, permanent, Post Office in Rhoose. It is a mains Post Office offering a wide range of services.
The previous, full-time, Postmaster suddenly had to retire from the role due to ill-health. In February 2023, Cerian and husband, Joel, took over the shop and they focussed on all the improvements that they wanted to make on the retail side.
We appointed an interim postmistress to restore Post Office services to the community. This was a part-time Post Office until Cerian and Joel were able to take on a permanent, full-time, Post Office at 55 Aw Fontygary Road, Rhoose, Barry, CF62 3DT.
The branch has gone from being open 21 hours a week to more than 40. The new opening hours are: Monday to Friday: 9.30am – 5pm; Saturday: 9am – 12 noon.
Cerian was brought up in the neighbouring village of St Athan. Joel had previously run a popular green grocers’ shop in Cowbridge, so they were well-known in the area. They had heard about the Post Office and shop opportunity in Rhoose and they were ready for a fresh challenge.
The couple have completely transformed the retail offering with all fresh local fruit and vegetables, fresh bread from local bakeries and local produce including jams. They have retained some cards and stationery, which was the original type of retail.
After introducing these many changes on the retail side, they successfully applied to take on Rhoose Post Office. Cerian has become the permanent postmistress. They employ three local people to work with them in the Post Office and shop. Joel also supplies fruit and vegetables to local pubs, restaurants and schools.
Cerian’s background was varied including working in pubs and was training to be a manager with SPAR.
The Rhoose Postmistress said: “The amount of positive comments that we have received about all the changes to the shop have been very heart-warming. The community is really delighted to have a full-time Post Office again.
“I am so thrilled that DJ Jaggers did our official opening. I love listening to his banter with Woody. They really make me laugh. I cracked open the prosecco for my customers to mark the special occasion.
“I’m a real people person. I love chatting to people and serving them. I’m used to working in pubs, so I’m used to banter, the only difference is the type of banter in the shop as the customers haven’t had a drink!”
Annete Thomas, Post Office Business Support Manager, said: “Cerian and Joel have done a great job transforming the retail side of the business and I am delighted that they have become the new, permanent owners of Rhoose Post Office, providing much needed, full-time Post Offices services to the community. It is a mains Post Office, offering a comprehensive range of Post Office services.
“Rhoose Post Office is close to Cardiff Airport, so well as being there to serve the local residents and businesses, it is conveniently located with lots of passing traffic and lots of reasons for people to pop in from personal and business banking, foreign currency, mail, bill payments and home shopping returns.”