Green-fingered postmaster marks 30 years in job

Chris Small has run Hopgrove post office from a greenhouse for three decades

A green-fingered sub-postmaster who runs a garden centre which doubles as a post office has celebrated serving his local community for three decades.

Chris Small, who operates Hopgrove post office from inside the greenhouse of his family business on the outskirts of York, has been presented with a Post Office 30 Years' Long Service Award.

Mr Small said offering postal services alongside growing perennials, bedding plants and other greenery worked well for his customers and for himself.

"I don't get huge amounts of post office customers. If I had a big queue of people, it might be a bit more difficult to try and balance the two together," he explained.

"I've got lots of gardening advice - hopefully that's appreciated by people."

It has not been the first time Hopgrove's post office has been located in a glass building, either: until her retirement, the former postmistress ran the service in a conservatory.

Mr Small said that while regulars were unfazed by the backdrop of plants at Orchard Nurseries, people using the local collection service could occasionally be taken by surprise.

"It's quite fun all these different people saying, 'oh I didn't realise it was in here' because I am sort of hidden," he said.

The greenhouse-based post office in Hopgrove, York, is open two days a week

While the post office is only open two days a week, the nursery is open daily, and Mr Small has been known to let customers collect parcels outside of branch times.

Cath Oglesby, Post Office area manager, said "Hopgrove post office is definitely the most unusual location I support, but it's located where it can serve two parishes as well as commuters.

"I want to sincerely thank Chris for his long and loyal service to this York neighbourhood for three decades."

Customer and Hopgrove resident Karen Nash said she was certainly grateful Mr Small could offer postal services "on the doorstep".

"We are quite isolated in the village here and, with a lot of the local post offices and local shops closing, you do have to go into the city centre," she said.

"That's a day-trip these days for a lot of people who haven't always got the time.

"I'm so pleased he's been recognised for his hard work, because sub-postmasters in the local community are so important."

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