I HAD the honour to know Norman and Elaine Hammersley as diligent and hard working members of the Royal Air Force before they took over the running of the Ferndale Road Post Office.

Both have never looked for an easy ride through life. As in the RAF, they looked to providing a service to others. People I have met who knew them could not speak highly enough of them, not just in the post office but in the local church.

Michael Wills, your government has done all it can to bring about the demise of the branch post office.

Money is not the be all and end all for this problem. Do you think you would have found replacements for Norman and Elaine five or even seven years ago? I doubt it. Michael Wills, take a leaf out of the Hammersley's book and get your government to continue to provide an efficient and proper service with incentive through the branch post office.

Mick Bray

Freshbrook