VILLAGERS in Wallyford said a fond farewell to their popular postmaster of 30 years last Friday, as the community’s Post Office service moved to a new location.

Pardeep Moudgil, 60, closed the doors of the Post Office at 132 Salters Road at 1pm, which coincided with the launch of a new Post Office Local Service at the nearby Day-Today store at 136 Salters Road.

Although retiring as postmaster, Mr Moudgil has no intention of leaving the village and is now planning to turn the former Post Office building, which he owns, into an Indian takeaway.

In the days leading up to the closure, Mr Moudgil received numerous gifts and a vast number of cards containing money from friends and customers.

He said: “I wish to thank everyone in Wallyford who overwhelmingly spoiled me with lovely gifts and the great number of cards I received, of which many contained money.”

The Courier previously reported that the proposed Post Office move was part of a major modernisation programme across the network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and open-plan environments.

The Post Office Local Service involves a Post Office serving point in the store where the Post Office terminal sits alongside the retail till. It will be available seven days a week during the store’s opening hours: 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.