A retailer couple, Kuldeep Dhillon and Balbir Kaur, who runs a Nisa store and post office in Birchwood, Warrington, have won British Empire Medals (BEM) in the King's Birthday Honours List announced on Friday for services to the local community.
Popular Bishops Cleeve postmistress Jennie Didcote, who has worked in post offices for 51 years, has also won a BEM. Didcote retired in October last year, after making a difference to the communities that she has served in the past five decades and the lives of seriously ill youngsters with her fundraising.
Active members of the Sikh community in Warrington, Kuldeep and Balbir have always been community-minded. During the pandemic, they were part of a team of eight people from their Sikh Temple fundraising to buy ingredients to make nutritious meals that they served to frontline NHS staff, which allowed them to continue working above and beyond. This team effort helped provide 35,000 meals for those at Warrington and Halton Hospitals in the first year of the crisis.
For the past two years Kuldeep has been a governor at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust.
“I have earned my living from this community for the past 40 years, so I like to give something back to my community to thank them,” Kuldeep says.
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Over the past four decades, Kuldeep, who serves as the Locking Stumps postmaster, and his wife Balbir have made a big difference to the people of Locking Stumps.
The kind-hearted and caring couple support local foodbanks with goods from the store. Balbir, also made home-made curries which she has sold to raise £4,000 to buy more produce for foodbanks.
Their Nisa store’s customer loyalty scheme at their shop at Glover Road, Birchwood, Warrington, has also raised around £7,000 for local good causes including the school, football team and youth clubs.
“I really want to congratulate Kuldeep and Balbir for their well-deserved British Empire Medals. They really are at the heart of their community,” Martin Roberts, Post Office group chief retail officer, said.
“They have done so much to improve the lives of people living and working in Warrington over the past four decades. They are great ambassadors for Post Office.”
Kuldeep Dhillon and Balbir Kaur with Andy Kingham, Post Office Retail Director - North
After graduating as a microbiologist, Kuldeep spent six months working in a laboratory. He found the job very lonely. He quickly realised that he needed to change his career to one working with people.
“I really love being a postmaster and running my shop because of the interaction with people,” Kuldeep said.
“People ask me when I’m going to retire, but I have no plans to retire. I love my work serving people and having a chat and a laugh with customers. I joke with customers that what would I do if I retired. I would be bored at home. I would have to go to the pub to chat to strangers for someone to talk to! Why do that, when I can carry on working here, where I can chat to so many people I know. I have known three generations of the same family and people know my name, even young children come in and say ‘Good Morning Mr Dhillon’.”
Commenting, Victoria Allsop, Post Office area manager, said: “Kuldeep and Balbir are pillars of their community. Kuldip regards his customers as his own family. They know everyone in this neighbourhood. Kuldeep is highly regarded and respected by all his customers for the way he runs his shop, the rapport with customers and the fact that he really cares about his community.
“Kuldeep and Balbir have done so much to raise funds and to support vulnerable and isolated people in Locking Stump and for those working or receiving treatment at the nearby hospital. They are inspirational. I am delighted to hear that both are to receive British Empire Medals.”
Victoria Lockie, head of retail at Nisa, added: “Many congratulations to Kuldeep and Balbir on this hugely deserved honour. Kuldeep and Balbir have become pillars of the Warrington community they have served so well for over 40 years, and they are both highly respected by their loyal customer base.
“I have heard lots of incredible things about Kuldeep and Balbir and how much they have done to raise funds and support vulnerable and isolated people in Locking Stumps – including regular donations into the community through our Making a Difference Locally charity.
“They are truly inspirational, and we are extremely proud to have Kuldeep and Balbir as part of the Nisa family.”
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