A POSTMASTER and shopkeeper has cashed up for the last time after 36 years in the village.

Carlo Guglielmi was 26 years old when he moved from London to Lawford in 1982 to run Honeycroft Post Office in Waldegrave Way.

He said: “My son Tom was only one year old. London was changing, not for the better, which was the main reason to find an exceptionally beautiful rural location to bring up our family.

“At that time the village was a lot smaller, the Lawford Dale, where 611 houses now stand, was just a big field, with natural springs running through it.

“There was a local carnival - a truly fantastic yearly event with all singing and dancing floats, carnival queens, music, fun and games for everyone.

“We didn’t find it at all difficult to settle down and added two more children to our family, who all grew up in the most beautiful environment anyone could wish for.”

Mr Guglielmi has seen lots of changes in his time behind the post office desk.

He added: “I witnessed the digital print revolution which Eddie Shah brought about with his famous advent of the Today newspaper, the very first colour daily publication in the business, which had been produced by a computer.

“The print unions did all they could to disrupt this culture change, and you never knew what supply of newspapers you would find when opening the shop in the morning, because of their ongoing strike action.”

“Being a newsagent we opened seven days per week, but Sunday trading was something absolutely forbidden for just about every other business, with fines up to £5000.

“But eventually these laws changed and we witnessed the setting up of out of town supermarkets, and a whole host of other stores, who traditionally populated our high streets.”

Mr Guglielmi became more involved with the community, going on to join the parish council in 1987.

He said: “I have been very privileged to have served my community of Lawford for the best part of 36 years, and my new wife of 15 years Val and I, feel very humbled by the most touching good luck with your retirement messages we have been receiving.

“I would like to pay Val a big homage for having seen me through my difficult divorce and through the gradual re-build of our business.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to all our customers, friends, staff, suppliers and anyone else with have worked with, for their loyalty, friendship and great support you have given us.”

Carlo and Val now plan to spend more time with family and on their council roles.

“Although we have moved only a few hundred yards, down in Colchester Road, we will carry on serving our community through our role as district and county councillors, but we will have more time to dedicate to our beautiful grandchildren, two of which life some way away in the US.

“Thank you Lawford for making me so welcome.”