West Berkshire postmistress retires after 25 years service

Val Pickett, 69, retired on November 7. Her clerk of 10 years, Debbie Ward, also retired on the same day.
Mrs. Pickett originally planned to retire when her late husband Laurie Drake, was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, but he convinced her to stay.
Mr Drake died 18 months later, in 2008, and Mrs. Pickett believes the job helped her to keep going.
She met her current husband, David Pickett, aged 77, as he was buying stamps in the post office. Romance blossomed and now they plan to spend their retirement cruising along the rivers on a narrowboat bought a few months ago for the purpose.
It hasn’t always been plain sailing and several years ago Mrs Pickett had a terrifying experience during an armed robbery at the post office.
The robbers had sawn-off shotguns and as they were being pursued, shot at two police officers.
“We opened up the next day as usual, the staff we brilliant,” said Mrs. Pickett about the incident.
Mrs Pickett added: “The best thing about the post office was all the friends that I have made over the years.”
In 2005, Val and her first husband were awarded the Stratfield Mortimer Community Award for their work running the post office.
The post office has been taken over by Rachel Loubser, who has worked for Mrs Pickett as a clerk for the last six years.