Much-loved Newbury Lane postmaster, Kewal Singh, is retiring after being at the heart of his Oldbury community for 44 years.
The popular postmaster is known to have gone above and beyond for the people of Oldbury as he really cares about the community that he serves, and he is very kind-hearted. Whenever his family has a birthday or there is a special occasion, he treats his customers to samosas or fruit.
Postmaster, Kewal Singh, said, “Sometimes when a small child came into the shop with an adult, I would give them a would give them a free lollipop. It was a small gesture, but the big smile from the child, would make me so happy. There is a little lad who every time he comes in, he stands in the doorway and he salutes me, which makes me smile. My customers remember the celebrations that we have had over the years. It’s good to give back to the community.”
Times have greatly changed since Kewal, who was born in India, decided to move to the UK in 1967. Despite being very well educated, and having been a teacher in India, he struggled to find work. The devout Sikh decided to remove his turban and cut his hair to increase his job prospects. Kewal who is a trustee of the Sikh temple, decided four years ago that it was time to wear a turban again and to grow a beard. He joked with customers that his wife would no longer buy him shaving gear.
When Kewal first work in the UK, it was low paid and others were given promotion opportunities above him. So Kewal decided to take on his own business. In 1980 he became Postmaster for Newbury Lane. People who already worked at the branch, who handed in their notices as they did not want to work for an Indian person. Customers were reticent too, but he asked customers to give him six months to prove themselves.
Kewal said, “It was tricky at the start, but we won people over with our hard work, the service that we provided and we gained their trust. We like to help people. We have always gone above and beyond for our community. I’m going to carry on working on an ad hoc basis in the Post Office and shop, so that I have more time to relax, but I will miss my customers otherwise. I’m not one for sitting around. I have a philosophy that every moment of your breath should be used wisely.
“I came to the UK with £2.50 in my pocket and I set myself a goal of being able to find myself a home and to be able to work to provide for my family in the UK and family back in India. It was a real struggle at first, but then it all started to go right when I bought the Post Office and we made a real success of it, doubling the size of the premises, by taking on the empty shop next door for a convenience store.
“We went from being leaseholders to freeholders, and until recently we also had a business in Birmingham city centre. It shows what can be achieve when you are hard-working, determined and make sacrifices – we had to go without holidays as we had businesses to run and family to support. Manjeet and I will now have time to enjoy holidays.
“We are delighted that my Grandson, who was born in the flat above the shop, is now taking over the business.”
Post Office Area Manager, Nik Priestley, said, “Kewal is a first class postmaster and he and Manjeet are very popular with their customers. I want to sincerely thank them for their long and loyal and committed service to this community for 44 years. I hope that I still get to enjoy chats with them when I come into see their Grandson in his new role as postmaster – he has been trained well.”
