Post Office closes

01/1/2012
End of an era!
Cloughey Post Office closes as postmistress retires after 26 years.

Rosemary receiving presentation from CDCA Chair Joanne Palmer at the Cloughey Christmas Festival.

Rosemary Crawford has been the Postmistress in Cloughey for just over 26 years. Since 1985, when she bought the property and converted it into a Post Office, she has seen a lot of changes. She has served people who came in with their children who now, as adults, come in with their own children.

She has seen young ones appearing and older ones passing away. She has always been kept up to date with what has been going on in and around the area. When people came in they would say "Did you hear about ........".

She admits she will find it quiet not having people calling in all the time and she says she would need a gossip column in the Chronicle each week to keep her up to date with all the news.

Rosemary_PO

Rosemary in her 'office'

During her time in the Post Office she twice came face to face with a gunman. the first time the robber pointed his gun at the head of an elderly customer and demanded money. Rosemary handed over the small amount that was in the till and was worried that he woudl think she was holding some back. On the other occasion, she did not hear the gunman entering and looked up to see a man pointing a gun at her. She does not know what got into her as she told him to clear off as she stepped back into the private part of the house. The gunman left empty handed. It was only then it hit her what she had done and she started to shake realising that she could have been shot.

The Post Office closed on Saturday 31st December for the last time and already work has commenced to convert the office back into a home were we hope that Rosemary will spend many a happy day in her retirement.

As for Rosemary she says it was just a friendly little post office and nothing special went on.

by CDCA roving reporter.