LOCAL constituency MP and MSP David and Oliver Mundell have warmly welcomed news the future of Sanquhar Post Office has been secured.
They have received confirmation that the branch, acknowledged as the longest running working post office in the world, has been taken over following the retirement of the current postmistress.
Lincolnshire-born Barry Ford has acquired the High Street business and will run the enterprise with his wife Mary, a native of Motherwell.
They succeed former Postmistress Nazra Alam, who along with her late husband, postal historian Dr Manzoor Alam, who died last year, operated the historic branch from 2015.
The Dumfriesshire MP and MSP have been active in trying to secure a future for the post office, both as a vital service for the community and a visitor attraction.
A joint statement from David and Oliver Mundell reads: “This is excellent news for Sanquhar and the surrounding area and means the Post Office will remain a valuable community resource into the future.
“Credit should go to Nazra and the late Dr Manzoor Alam, whose valuable service included the years during the challenging pandemic. Throughout their tenure they enthusiastically embraced the historical importance of the branch.
“It is interesting to note that Barry and Mary will be only the 17th owners and operators of the Sanquhar Post Office since it first opened in 1712 and we wish them well.”
In 2020, David Mundell highlighted the historical importance of Sanquhar Post Office during a debate in the House of Commons.
