Gelli Post Office has opened today at a new location - Asees Convenience Store, 41 Tyisaf Road, Gelli, CF41 7TX, with new postmaster – Miss Raman Singh.
Retiring postmaster, Paul Waters, who has served the village in the Rhondda Valley for 26 years has “cut the ribbon” today (18/3) to mark the official opening of the branch which has moved across the road. Gelli’s oldest resident, Mike Chapman, aged 82, read out a moving speech and Raman provided cake for her community.
New Gelli postmaster, Raman Singh, said: “Paul is so well-known and liked in Gelli that I really wanted him to cut the ribbon. He has done such a great job serving this community since February 1999.
“I’m glad that Paul can now have a well-earned retirement after serving the people of Gelli for more than a quarter of a century.
“People were at first nervous about the change and whether it would work having a Post Office in my shop, however, now the work to accommodate the Post Office counter has been done they are reassured and pleased that I’m taking over the branch.
“I have run this shop for six years and it is named after my six-year-old daughter, Asees. She is very happy that I’m taking on the Post Office with its red branding as red is her favourite colour. I’m very excited to have taken on Gelli Post Office.”
The Post Office counter is alongside the retail counter. This means that the branch is now open throughout the convenience store’s opening hours of Monday to Saturday: 8am – 7pm; Sunday: 10am – 5pm.
This will provide 73 hours of Post Office service a week. This is an extra 29 hours of Post Office service per week, including all-day Sunday, Saturday afternoon, earlier opening and much later closing, plus no more lunchtime closing. This will make it much easier for customers to visit at a time that suits them.
Annete Thomas, Post Office Business Support Manager, said: “Raman has been very accommodating with making changes to her existing shop to provide space for a Post Office counter as she really wanted to maintain Post Office services to the community and to allow Paul Waters a well-deserved retirement.
“Ramandeep and the community hold Paul in very high regard as he has been at the heart of this community for 26 years. Ramandeep also cares for her community and is really looking forward to serving her new Post Office customers.”
To mark Paul’s retirement he has had lots of cards and gifts from customers. A teacher and some children from the local primary school presented him with a gift to thank him for all his support over the years, including many visits from pupils about what a postmaster does.
One customer commented: “I have previously posted online my praise for Gelli Post Office which has been viewed 100+ times. I am sorry to hear that Paul will no longer be working from March. The Post Office is losing a valuable asset. Paul’s knowledge is so fantastic whatever the question. He is always helpful, polite and considerate.”
Retired Postmaster Paul Waters, aged 67, said: “I’ve loved my time as a postmaster, the role, the customers and the respect it’s afforded me in the community. I’ve met some lovely people and forged great relationships over the years. I wouldn’t change a minute of it.
“I also want to thank Ann Drummond, my long-serving, retiring, employee Ann who worked hard and cared for the customers for 17 years. I am sure that Ramandeep will be a really good postmistress – she is polite, courteous and very community-minded.”
Paul, who previously worked for the Royal Mail and the family bakery in Tynewydd, is now looking forward to the next chapter of his life. He has just become a grandfather to a beautiful baby boy and he expects to helping out with lots of baby-sitting. His member of staff, Ann, has also just become a grandmother for the first time – again to a boy.