IT WAS a red letter day in Camelsdale at the official opening of the community’s first post office, hosted by Arnolds Garage, last Friday.

Lynchmere Parish Council chairman Sylvia McCallum cut the ribbon with the help of Camelsdale Primary School chairman of governors Jan Ahern and four, year-five house captains.

Guests were treated to bubbly and a special celebration cake made by staff member Ruth McCann, and customers throughout the day were presented with goodie bags donated by Booker Group’s Premier Stores, Bosch Car Service and Murco Petroleum. They could also try their luck in a raffle.

Peter Tilson, who owns the family business with his wife Carolyn – and whose daughter Chantelle is postmistress – said: “A huge thank-you to all our customers, our really wonderful team of staff, our great suppliers, many of whom are local, and to my family.

“You are all very much appreciated and have enabled this business to build its success.

“Thank you also to Sylvia McCallum for cutting the ribbon for the opening of the post office and for all the support we have had from the local community.

Mrs McCallum added: “This new post office at Arnolds Garage is great news for the local community. It will provide all the main postal and banking services which people need regularly at a location convenient to them and will be open for more than 100 hours a week.

“This will be a tremendous help, especially for those who find it more difficult to get into Haslemere or other main town centres.

“I am very grateful to the Tilson family for taking on this new branch. I am sure this new facility will be much appreciated locally.”

The opening hours are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7am to 9.30pm and Friday and Saturday from 7am to 10pm.

•Haslemere will shortly benefit from two more post office openings. Beacon Hill Post Office closes at 5.30pm on Tuesday, February 13, when postmaster Clive Bingle retires.

But it will reopens at 1pm on Valentine’s Day, hosted by the village’s new Simply Fresh convenience store which is also launching on Wednesday, February 14,

The eagerly awaited reopening of Lion Green Post Office, at Haslewey Centre, has been set for Tuesday, March 20.

The two-counter ‘Local Plus’ branch will be open 8.30am-6pm (Mon-Fri).