Two retailers at centre of their communities receive New Year’s Honour recognition

Two retailers, both serving on their respective parish councils, have been recognised in the 2023 New Year Honours List.

Leslie Francis, postmistress for Enham Alamein, Hampshire and David Ward, postmaster for East Barkwith, Lincolnshire have both received a British Empire Medal for services to their local communities.

Leslie and her husband, Tim, took on the Village store and Post Office in Enham Alamein, near Andover, 18 years ago. They had moved from Shirley in Southampton to the close-knit village with many elderly residents and people with disabilities. Her daughter’s reaction was “you will love it there as you love to help people.”

Soon after Leslie arrived she took over the Residents’ Association and helped to establish the Parish Council and she has been chair since.

Leslie Francis with her husband, Tim

Lots of fundraising takes place at the shop to raise money for charities that support the local community. Leslie loves to organise community celebrations including a party for the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There are special plaques outside the shop marking these occasions and for going above and beyond during Covid.

“I was surprised and honoured to receive the British Empire Medal. My notification letter had gone to an email address that wasn’t quite right. I then got a phone call out of the blue to let me know. I had tears of joy running down my face, but I couldn’t let on, even to my friend who was in the shop at the time, only to reassure her that it was good news,” Leslie said.

“Our shop is the hub of Enham Alamein and we love serving this community, neighbouring villages and passers-by. We adapted the shop to make wider aisles to make it easier for our customers in wheelchairs or walking sticks and frames.”

In World War II many of the injured from the famous Battle of El Alamein were brought back to the UK. Many were cared for at a recovery centre in the village of LowerEnham, which was re-named because of its special war-time ties.

Enham Trust is a leading disability charity supporting people to transition towards independent living. Enham Alamein village remains a centre for charity work and supporting others.

Leslie Francis with her husband, Tim

Their post pffice and SPAR store remained fully open during the pandemic as people needed the vital services and groceries and customers wanted to stay local, including banking.

“In February 2020, before the first lockdown we handed out notes to the 250 homes in the village saying ‘If you can’t get out, don’t go without’ and we introduced doorstep deliveries,” Leslie said.

“We like to bring cheer to the community on our Facebook page with fun photos and videos. Last year, Tim sang a Christmas song in a video. It went viral. Customers kept asking us to do another, so we did. Tim sang a different song and we messed around. We wished people a Merry Christmas and a cryptic message advising people to watch out for a New Year’s Eve message as I knew by then that I could share the happy news about my New Year’s Honour.”

Leslie Francis

Commenting, Mitchell Taylor, Post Office area manager, said: “To hear that Leslie has been mentioned in the New Year Honours is truly inspiring, Leslie is an absolute pillar of not just her community but surrounding villages and parishes. She is a member of our internal postmaster forums where she regularly joins and contributes to our future – a true Post Office ambassador.

“Leslie has a unique vision for her business and the first question she asks with any change is ‘How will this affect my community?’ I often joke that Leslie doesn’t sleep. Such a privilege to work and support Leslie and her team over the last 4 years, well done!”

Nick Read, Post Office Chief Executive, added: “I personally know Leslie and Tim and they are great ambassadors for Post Office. They really go above and beyond for their community, adapting their store to make it easier for the large proportion of their customers who are elderly or disabled, home deliveries, fundraising and big celebrations for the village for special occasions. I am delighted that Leslie has been granted a British Empire Medal.”

Serving for 50 years

David’s family took on East Barkwith Post Office & Village Shop 47 years ago. Aged five, he recalls helping with decorating. David has been the postmaster for 30 years. His wife, Sally, also works there and they are both listening ears when the community are lonely or need advice.

His family has also run Donnington on Bain Village Shop. His Mum, Jenny, has just reached the milestone of working there for 50 years. David was just two years old when his family moved from Goulceby to take on that shop.

Both shops are at the heart of their communities, and they remained fully open during the pandemic. David has been a Parish Councillor for 25 years.

David Ward

“I was surprised and very honoured to receive the British Empire Medal. When I received an email with the news, I wasn’t sure if it was genuine until I got a confirmation phone call a few weeks later,” David said.

“I kept both shops open throughout the pandemic as I knew that people were reliant on Post Office services and for buying groceries. With bank branches having closed people needed to do their banking with us too. We were extra busy. Turnover was two and a half times the normal rate. Customers really appreciated that we were open.”

He serves as the president of the Lincoln and Grimsby National Federation of Sub Postmasters (NFSP) and he has also recently become the president of the NFSP’s North East Region. He also volunteers on the Post Office Postmaster Forum. David has had conversations with many top politicians about the important role post offices and village shops play in communities and how they could be supported, including recently campaigning for the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme to be extended to post offices beyond March.

“A Post Office and village shop really is at the heart of a community. In East Barkwith we are the last shop. We often get people, who live alone, say that we are the only people that they have seen all week. As well as the services that we provide people come in for the social interaction, when they are upset or need advice. We are here for them,” David added.

David Ward

One year David did a big fundraiser for Baby Lives charity, raising £1,000 for his local hospital towards incubators. A year later his son needed this equipment when he was born. Through sales of the National Lottery at his store he has also helped with many good causes.

When David won an independent retailer competition, he shared the prize of £750, between the school where he was a governor, the village hall and the local swimming pool.

Nick Read said: “David is a pillar of the community for East Barkwith and Donnington on Bain and he really cares about the rural communities that he serves. He uses his extensive postmaster and retail knowledge to help other postmasters through the National Federation of Sub Postmasters and the Post Office Postmaster Forum. I am delighted that he’s been granted a British Empire Medal.”