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Postmaster Louise marks 40 years of service at Halkirk


By Alan Hendry

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Halkirk postmaster Louise Gunn with her long service award and flowers.
Halkirk postmaster Louise Gunn with her long service award and flowers.

Halkirk postmaster Louise Gunn is celebrating 40 years of service – and 2020 also marks the 90th anniversary of her family operating the village post office.

Louise took over the running of it from her mother, also Louise Gunn, in July 1980. Her mum had run the office for 13 years and prior to that her uncle, Kenneth Macdonald, had been postmaster for 37 years.

Post Office area manager Sally Wilson presented flowers and a long service award to Louise at the branch in the village's Crescent Street.

Sally said: “It is great to see how Louise has been serving the community during the pandemic and to hear about her long-serving family and their loyalty and commitment to Halkirk.”

There was also special mention of the long service of Louise and her family in a virtual Post Office We’re Stronger Together roadshow for Scotland on Monday evening.

Louise was 22 when she took on the post office from her mum. She had trained as a hairdresser, but her mother wanted to hand over the reins to a family member and Louise still does both jobs.

Her daughter Kayte Miller is about to open a beauty therapy business in the former sorting office, which is alongside the post office.

Louise said: “I grew up 20 miles away and the first connection we had to Halkirk was when my uncle took on the post office, then my mum. I am now part of the fixtures and fittings of Halkirk and I have no plans to stop.

"I raised my three children, David, Allen and Kayte, here. I remember pushing the children around in a pram and asking the postmen to be quiet so that they could sleep.

"On a bonny day I would have a play pen outside the shop and people would pop by to say hello to them and to bring them sweets – fond memories.”


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