After 41 years service at Milton Keynes Post Office, branch manager Deborah Penwarne will take early retirement next week.
Since she began working at the central branch, it has been in five different locations, including two unexpected moves this year.
In June there was a serious fire at the Midsummer Boulevard site whilst open to the public. Customers, Deborah and her team had to flee the blaze. Thankfully no one was injured. Recently a man from London was charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
“What a year it has been! I will never forget 2025. In the spring we found out that Milton Keynes branch and all the UK’s remaining directly managed branches were to be franchised by the autumn. I knew then that I wanted to retire.
"Then there was the serious fire – no one expects that to happen. When the temporary branch re-opened, we were so pleased we got to work with each other again. We are going out for a lovely meal next week to mark the end of an era,” she added.
“It is going to be very strange this December as I’m normally really busy working in the run-up to Christmas. I’ve only once not worked in December - when I was on maternity leave. Now I won’t have to rush with my Christmas shopping or other festive preparations.”
Paul Mead, Post Office Head of Directly Managed Branches, said: “Staff have been amazing and very committed to serving their community. They’ve been through the ordeal of the fire, and they’ve still carried on loyally serving customers.
“Milton Keynes is a branch I managed from early in my career and I managed Deb for a number of years, so I have had the pleasure of working with Deb for many years. She’s hard-working, cares about her customers and staff. I wish her a very well-earned retirement.”
When the branch returns to its normal location on 26 November it will then be under new management. UOE Stores is taking over the running of this branch. Universal Office Equipment UK LTD already successfully runs Post Offices in the UK. Milton Keynes will be its 41st branch.
Meanwhile, Deborah is looking forward to her first grandchild being born next year.
