A SURPRISE delivery awaited Fernhurst postmistresses Lizzie Webber and Glenys Parkhouse when they shut up shop for the last time last Thursday.

Keen to give them a good send off, villagers stage a fond farewell party for the duo to mark the end of an era – the Fernhurst branch has relocated after 135 years in the same historic premises.

Determined to keep the vital facility going, Malcolm Dudman, owner of Fernhurst electrical contractors Dudman-Ward, is now hosting the branch and it reopened at 1pm with Julia Southey in charge, the following day.

Lizzie ran Fernhurst Post Office from her own home, as her mother did for many years before her and, as a grand finale, the Fernhurst Society mounted a surprise street party.

Loyal customer Alan Sutte gave a speech of thanks and society chairman Judith Turner presented Lizzie and Glenys with flowers and a reproduction of a painting of the post office by Angela Parrott, signed by villagers.

Guests, who included relations of previous postmasters and postmistresses, also enjoyed a special cake made by Louise Buchanan, which was decorated as a parcel.

“It’s the end of an era and a considerable crowd gathered to say goodbye,” Mrs Turner said.

“We are delighted Malcolm has agreed to have it in his shop. A village without post office loses some of its heart.”

Fernhurst Archive is mounting an exhibition about the history of the post office in the village hall later this year.