Popular Post Office Clerk Retires After Lengthy Service

Hailsham has said goodbye to a familiar face at the town centre post office, as a long-time employee steps out from behind the counter clerks’ window after many years of loyal service.

Wendy Keyte, who has worked at the post office in Hailsham as a counter clerk for 33 years, has been hailed as a “model employee” by Town Clerk and Postmaster John Harrison after her lengthy service to the community.

Wendy was presented with cards and flowers at a special farewell gathering with staff at the post office, to thank her for helping the town’s residents and businesses with their postal needs.

“Wendy’s expertise and exemplary customer service have been invaluable, both to her colleagues and members of the public,” said John Harrison. “Wendy has been a model employee dedicating much of her working life to the post office and residents over the years.”

“Wendy has made a big contribution to the day-to-day running of the town centre post office and is held in very high esteem for assisting members of the public with all postal matters. She will be missed by us all and we wish her a very long, healthy and happy retirement.”

The news of Wendy’s retirement follows further positive feedback on the town centre post office received from residents and customers in recent months, praising the branch team for its customer service, readjusting to post-pandemic working levels and for responding to community needs.

Having opened its doors in July 2019 and believed to be the first post office in the UK to be operated by a Town Council, the lease of the premises located at 10 High Street was taken over and the new premises completely refurbished, prior to the official opening of the relocated post office to the public in August 2019.

Operating 49 hours of post office service a week, the post office is currently open from 8.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 9am-1pm.

The modern, open-plan premises provides all the standard counter services, and the same wide range of Post Office products and services are available, including banking services for personal customers and small businesses.

The post office branch remained open throughout the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, as an essential service to the local community.

Positive feedback was also generated for the sub post office located in Hawkswood Road in north Hailsham.

“It goes without saying that the past couple of years have been more difficult for the Post Office as it has for so many in the retail sector,” John Harrison added. “But the town centre branch team really stepped up and, now that normality has returned in our lives post-pandemic and free of restrictions, our staff continue to provide an excellent customer experience to our residents and small businesses.”

“Since taking over the franchise for the town centre post office and ultimately saving the essential community facility from closure, the public have commended the Town Council and continue to show their appreciation by way of proving feedback online and in-person at the branch.”

“It’s wonderful that our town centre post office is conveniently located for local businesses and residents, especially the elderly who often rely heavily on ease of access to local post office services.”