PEOPLE?in Grayshott have a new and modern post office on Crossways Road thanks to a major refurbishment under the national “network transformation programme” at the end of September.

Sub-postmistress Michelle Reidy, a familiar face in the village since 1998, is also celebrating a 10-year anniversary, after taking over the post office and shop with her husband Noel on October 15, 2005.

Last year, Grayshott post office was under threat of closure, which caused uproar among residents who launched a petition to keep it going.

Michelle said: “We have just reopened after what is probably the biggest refit since this post office was first opened in the 1930. And I believe we are the only ones to have a specially built space under the counter for a dog bed.”

Lottie is the post office’s resident Jack Russell.

“But we had a fight on our hands for a year now to keep the post office in the village at all. After three months of negotiations, a public consultation and lots of support from residents, the Post Office finally agreed that we could carry on,” she continued.

“Members of the public insisted that we should retain even more of the services than originally agreed and finally this August the Post Office confirmed that we could retain our second counter, due to the fact that NatWest Bank in Headley Road will be closing in mid-November. In addition, the closure of Headley Down post office on September 30 has increased the footfall here in Grayshott and one counter would have been totally insufficient.”

The transformation of the Post Office counters and the entire shop means Michelle has been able to increase her selection of greeting cards and gifts.

There are also longer opening hours, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 3pm on Saturdays.

“This means that I can be of more service to all our regular and new customers more efficiently, together with my team, consisting of Dawn Strickland, Isobel O’Neill and Charlie Cherry,” added Michelle.

Apart from postal services, Grayshott offers cash deposits and withdrawals, postal orders, electronic bill payments, Post Office card accounts, moneygrams, car tax, foreign currency with Euros and dollars available at all times, and e-top-ups.