Cowfold Postmistress Ros Daly retires after 27 years

Ros, who ran the post office with Craig Daly, retired on August 7.

More than 50 Cowfold villagers gathered for a surprise party to wish her well and present a collection of over £860 pounds, raised by local customers and village friends.

There was also a bottle of vintage champagne and celebratory ‘Post Office’ cake to mark the departure of a valued piece of Cowfold village life.

Ros told the County Times: “I’m sure I will enjoy retirement - a friend of mine is retired, so we’re going to be ladies that lunch.

“I’d like to say how amazed I was by the number of people that turned up on the Friday to say goodbye.”

Taking the time to get to know people had been a key element in her success, she said.

“All of my customers are very special - whether they’re very old or very young, I always try to find the time to talk to them.

“I think that’s why we’ve been so successful. People need just a few minutes sometimes.”

At present, the nearest post office for Cowfold residents is in Partridge Green.

The Post Office is planning to provide a ‘hosted’ service for Cowfold, with services available at certain times on certain days.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “Following the resignation of the Postmaster and the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use, Cowfold Post Office closed temporarily on 07 August.

“We are currently finalising plans for a temporary hosted outreach service for the village to enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community, whereby a local postmaster visits at set times each week. We plan to commence this service at The Weald Community Church, The Smithy, Bolney Road, Cowfold, RH13 8AA, the end of September.”

In the meantime the alternative branches are: Partridge Green Post Office, High Street, RH13 8HR, and Henfield Post Office, High Street, BN5 9DA.

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