Man who carried the weight of Captain Tom's correspondence retires

However his first class service recently came to an end when he stepped down from the role – and the community held a celebration to thank him for his tireless work.

There was a big gathering at Marston Moretaine Community Centre to thank Bill Chandi and his wife Rani, which was attended by Blake Stephenson MP, councillors and customers.

Bill also played a special role with Captain Sir Tom Moore’s epic fundraising and 100th birthday events.

In 2020 Captain Tom Moore, who lived in the village, became the renowned fundraiser who captured people’s hearts by doing sponsored laps of his garden with his walking frame. His efforts raised more than £32million for the NHS charity and saw him honoured with a knighthood.

Captain Sir Tom had been nearly 100-years-old when he started his fundraising, which attracted lots of positive, media attention. To mark his special 100th birthday postmaster Bill provided a way for people to send cards, presents and charity donation cheques to Marston Moretaine Post Office for the centenarian, generating more publicity.

Bill also delivered the presents to the world famous 100-year-old. He gave many media interviews about Captain Sir Tom’s fundraising and added to the buzz of excitement in the village and beyond and helped to lift the nation’s morale.

“This was the highlight of my life being involved in all the amazing publicity and joy surrounding Sir Captain Tom’s fundraising and special birthday celebrations and sadly later his funeral,” Bill said.

“It was a full-on time. What very few people knew was that I had been diagnosed with cancer. I was having chemotherapy, but I was still running my Post Office for my customers, taking birthday presents to the home of Sir Captain Tom and doing a lot of TV, radio and newspaper interviews.

“I was really glad that I could be a part of this amazing time for the village. It was very joyful and up-lifting. It was just what the country needed to raise spirits at the difficult time of the pandemic.

“I only told Sir Captain Tom’s family afterwards what I had personally been going through and most customers were not aware. Now my health is good, I’m happier to talk about it.”

Blake Stephenson MP for Mid Bedfordshire said: “I want to thank Bill Chandi for everything that he has done for Marston Moretaine for 37 years as postmaster and his ongoing role as a parish councillor. Bill is an incredible community champion, and I was so pleased to be able to join the celebrations.”

Mr Stephenson has invited Bill and his wife to the Houses of Parliament for a guided tour and a celebration meal in the House of Commons, to show his appreciation for Bill's decades of work.

Marston Moretaine Post Office is now run by postmistress Niyamat Chandi, from Bedford, who is no relation to Bill.