THE identity of the new owners of a village post office was kept a closely-guarded secret until the morning they took over the reins.But now Paul and Margaret Gladwell, who were both born and raised on the Shotley Peninsula, are enjoying running the thriving business in Holbrook, near Ipswich.
THE identity of the new owners of a village post office was kept a closely-guarded secret until the morning they took over the reins.
But now Paul and Margaret Gladwell, who were both born and raised on the Shotley Peninsula, are enjoying running the thriving business in Holbrook, near Ipswich.
They replaced villagers Colin and Sheila Ashman, who retired after running the site for 15 years.
The couple, who took over the post office earlier this month, are childhood sweethearts and Mrs Gladwell, 43, originally from Holbrook, and her 42-year-old husband from Stutton, met when they were both pupils at Holbrook High School.
For four years after their marriage they lived in Needham Market but they said they always intended to return to Holbrook and after spending some years in nearby Woolverstone, finally returned to the village in 1994.
The Gladwells said they had been overwhelmed by the welcome from their customers, many of whom sent greetings cards or called into the shop just to introduce themselves.
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