Model railway display at Blackhall Mill post office
Dec 11 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
A VILLAGE post office is back on the right track after people power saved it from closure. And to celebrate its reprieve, postmaster Roland Derry has turned the store into a magnet for model railway enthusiasts.
Former company director Roland, 69, painstakingly created two model train sets which run above the heads of customers who call into the post office and village store at Blackhall Mill, between Rowlands Gill and Consett, County Durham.
He even provided an authentic sound track of steam engines chugging away.
Grandfather-of-12 Roland, who has run the post office branch with wife Brenda, 65, for nine years, said he had decided to create the railways as a festive thank you to villagers who had turned out in force to oppose the branch closure earlier this year.
Brenda added: “I often complain about Roland spending so much time on his model railways, but this time I am delighted because our customers have been so appreciative, especially the children.
“We wanted to do something to thank the villagers for turning out in force to help save us from closure.
“We were both overwhelmed and flattered by the support we received from the village.”
Most of Blackhall Mill’s 800 residents lobbied Post Office bosses and packed the village community centre to tell them how vital the service was to them.
Brenda said: “We had some marvellous support from local MP Dave Anderson and Maureen Chaplin, our local councillor who is also the Mayor of Gateshead this year.
“And locals were marvellous. We now owe it to them to look after them and to provide a service for them. We think of ourselves as traditional shopkeepers.”
Share
