Horham Post Office to Close as Couple Retires After 57 Years

The Post Office in Horham is scheduled to close following the retirement of David and Irene Spall, who have operated the branch for 57 years. The couple has managed the Post Office in the Suffolk village of Horham, near Eye, since November 1967. They expressed gratitude to their customers for their “long and loyal support” over the decades, prior to their final day of service on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Post Office stated that there are no intentions to reopen the branch and acknowledged any resulting inconvenience. In a joint statement, Mr. and Mrs. Spall remarked, “We moved to Horham in 1967,” adding, “We have met lots of lovely people and made lots of friends.” They continued, “We really want to thank our customers for their long and loyal support over the past 57 years.” They also credited their assistants, stating, “We couldn’t have done it without the help of our two assistants Sheila Hawes and Tracey Peters.” Concluding their statement, they said, “The time is now right for us to retire. This is the end of an era.” Upon assuming control of the branch in 1967, the couple expanded the premises to establish a village shop. During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, they maintained full operation of the Post Office to deliver essential services, an effort for which they received thanks from Daniel Poulter, who was then the Labour MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. Shervorne Page, the Post Office area manager, extended her gratitude to the couple for “all that they have done for their community since 1967.” She further commented, “They really care about the people of Horham and the nearby communities that they have served,” and concluded, “I wish them a well-earned retirement.” A Post Office spokesperson reiterated that the Horham branch would not reopen, but noted that the Stradbroke post office is situated nearby. The spokesperson added, “We understand that it will be an inconvenience for some local residents to travel to Stradbroke to access our products and services,” but also stated, “However, the branch is open six days a week and we hope that local residents will be able to visit at a time that suits them.”