One of the essential businesses in any community is the Post Office. In addition to the usual postal services they also provide banking services, insurance, bureau de change and identity services such as passports. The post office has had to change as fewer people are communicating by post and using social media. However, as more people are shopping online the parcel delivery business has become much more important.
The Post Office in Leadgate has been run by Griff Elliot for 24 years and is a very visible part of the community.
It seems as if virtually everyone in the village goes there, and knows Griff. He also has a lot of customers coming from further afield, where the post office has either shut or become less convenient.
In the past, Griff was a motorcycle racer, with photos on the wall of the shop to prove it. He has now given that up; and become a firearms instructor, a historic guns enthusiast and a sniper rifle marksman! He has won numerous marksmen competitions, including those held at the famous National Shooting Centre at Bisley Range. He estimates that he has about 50 medals from various competitions including from the famous Trafalgar meeting.
And as Griff says,
And to some people, they think I just sell stamps
