THIS month marks the 85th birthday of Blackmill Postmaster’s Lynden Griffiths who is to retire this month after an impressive 53 years in the role.
The shop has been in Lynden’s family for 101 years and the Post Office has operated alongside the village shop for the past 53 years since Lynden became the Postmaster. Previously Blackmill Post Office had been based across the road.
In 1950, Lynden had been working in a job up North, when the opportunity came along to be the Postmaster for Blackmill, the village where his Grandmother Elizabeth Griffiths and then his Dad, Gwilym Griffiths had run the shop since 1922.
Lynden even brought his original Post Office counter while up North and brought it down with him.
To thank Lynden for his long, committed service, Post Office Regional Manager Lynn Lewis and Area Manager Lowri McCausland and Network Provision Lead, Santosh Samudrala, will visit Lynden next week to show their appreciation to the popular Postmaster.
Martin Roberts, Post Office Group Chief Retail Officer, has also sent Lynden a card and note for his 85th birthday on 19 August. It reads: “From everyone at Post Office I want to wish you a very special 85th birthday and to sincerely thank you for your very long and loyal service to your community over the past 53 years. Very few Postmasters reach this amazing length of service.
“You have dedicated most of your life to serving this community as Postmaster and running the village shop. From feedback from colleagues, I know that you really care about the Blackmill community, which is why you continued to work and to operate the business, even throughout the pandemic.
“Most people would have retired long before, but I know how much you enjoy your role and that you wanted to continue to provide a Post Office and shop at the heart of your village for as long as possible. I want to wish you all the best for a very well-earned retirement.”
Blackmill Post Office and shop at Blackmill, Bridgend, CF35 6DR, close on August 26. The premises are also the home of Lynden and his wife Pat, so a new retail business cannot open there. The nearest Post Offices are Lewistown, Ogmore Vale, Brynmenyn and Sarn.
Blackmill Postmaster, Lynden Griffiths, said: “I have mixed emotions about stepping down as Postmaster, but I know that it is the right time to retire. The best thing about being a Postmaster is serving the community and being at the heart of the village.
“I know so many people in Blackmill. I have served as many as five generations of the same family. Pat and I will continue to live in Blackmill, so we will still see lots of people in the village. I really want to also thank my hard-working assistant, Ruth Bees, who has worked with me for 19 years. I’m really glad that she’s already found a new job nearby.”
Lynden and Pat, who have been married for 60 years on September 14, are well-known and respected in the community. Lynden was a senior magistrate and councillor. Pat still organises a local walking group and local fundraising group for Latch Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity.
Lynden is looking forward to having more time to relax and to be able to spend more time with family and friends. Lynden and Pat are hoping to go on a cruise later this year.
