Raglan postmistress retires after 63 years

Raglan Postmistress Marion Watkins is taking well-earned retirement after serving her Monmouthshire village since 1961.

Marion, who has always lived in Raglan, opened a village grocery shop in the High Street with her husband Dilwyn in 1961. They had their two children, then moved to larger premises in Raglan in 1968 to open a supermarket.

Later they took on Raglan Post Office in 1978 first at their Central Stores site later moving in the 1980’s to their old shop site in the same street. Dilwyn was the Postmaster until he sadly died in 2018 with Marion then becoming the Postmistress. Their son, Andrew, has been in charge of the supermarket for many years.

Now the family has decided that it is time to retire as it has been a tough, few, years due to the Covid pandemic. Their main supermarket closed in November in readiness and is to become a Tesco store.

Raglan Post Office and shop closes on 5 October and it re-opens across the road at the Gulf Garage with new owners on 7 October at 1pm.

Postmistress, Marion Watkins, said “I’m a local girl and I have loved serving my community. Now at the age of 86, it’s time to retire.

“I am so pleased that Raglan is keeping a Post Office as its busy and much needed. There are no banks in the area and Raglan Post Office is in effect the bank as we do so many banking transactions for all the major high street banks as it saves residents and businesses from having to travel elsewhere. Raglan Post Office has been a life saver for banking.

“It was a full-on time during Covid keeping the Post Office open for all of its vital services including sending parcels, paying bills and home shopping returns. People wanted to stay local and for the supermarket my son Andrew and my grandson were also busy with free deliveries to vulnerable people who had to stay home. So, it is now time to relax.

“In my lifetime there have been five different postmasters in Raglan and there have been three different locations and soon a fourth."

Post Office Area Manager, Neil Jenkins, said: “The Watkins family have gone above and beyond for their community for more than six decades, which is very impressive. For 46 years Dilwyn, then Marion, were at the helm of Raglan Post Office, doing a great job. I wish Marion and Andrew well-earned retirements. They truly have been at the heart of their community.”