Winter 2006/2007 Hartington Home to the North West's No 1 Post Office
The Post Office at Hartington, situated within Beresford Tearooms, has been named Best Rural Post Office in the North West Region as part of the annual UK Best Post Office Awards 2006.
This is the second time that sub-postmistress Sue Wardle has received the accolade, having won both the regional and national Best Post Office Awards in 2003.
"It's wonderful. To win for a second time is a real honour," commented Sue.
Sue is very aware of the huge importance post offices play in rural communities, as well as the need to find a solution to their future.
"The Post Office is a big part of the community. In a rural village, like Hartington, it is also somewhere where you can keep an eye on the older people, act as an agony aunt and a place for people to come and to catch up on the latest happenings."
Sue's regional win took her to the national finals in November although, sadly, this year it wasn't to be. But there is always next year!
Joining Sue at the finals as another nominee was Caryl Heath, sub-postmistress of Ashford-in-the-Water Post Office, which is situated in the village Hall, the Ashford War Memorial Institute.
Well done to both Sue and Caryl for the recognition of their hard work and for helping to maintain a vital rural service in these areas.
Pub is the Hub
Set up in 2001 through the Rural Action Programme of Business in the Community, Pub is the Hub encourages breweries, pub owners, suppliers, local publicans and their communities to work together to help retain and enhance rural pubs and vital rural services.
Rural pubs in the East Midlands, including those in Derbyshire, have access to the Rural Pub Service Grant Scheme, which is aimed at supporting rural pubs develop a range of services in addition to their general pub business.
This has proved a big hit with already some 200 outlets in England supplying Post Office services, 80 in-pub convenience shops and 30 pubs participating in the Locals Online scheme, which offers IT training to people in remote rural areas.
The grants are available until the end of March 2007 and can be used to help set up a range of services including:
- Village shop/Convenience goods store
- Post Office
- Local fresh farm produce
- Library
- Pharmaceutical or health services
- Meeting or events venue
- Youth & Education Facilities
- IT Centre/Internet facility
- Creche
- Community services
To find out more go to www.pubisthehub.org.uk
or call Sarah Burns on 01423 568987.
Harington Home to the North West s No 1 Post Office.pdf