A dedicated postmaster is retiring this month after serving the Farnborough community for more than 40 years.

Kyriacos Kokkinos, known as Kerry, took over the High Street branch in January 1980, having previously run the newsagents next door.

He is retiring with wife Theodora to spend more to with family, including a youngest daughter who they have been unable to visit in Cyprus due to Covid.

Kerry said his favourite thing about running Farnborough Post Office for nearly 42 years was being able to meet so many people.

This Is Local London: Kerry and Theo Kokkinos Kerry and Theo Kokkinos

“We have been very lucky to have had the support and love from our customers for all these years,” he added.

“We have had a very good time.

“We will be staying in Farnborough Village and we hope to still see most of our customers.”

Prior to becoming a Postmaster, Kerry worked as an engineer in Bristol, but was travelling often and missing his family.

One of Kerry’s colleagues ran a newsagent, and after a late-night visit to check out the shop, Kerry embarked on a career change and bought the lease of a small newsagents in Bromley.

Kerry ran the newsagent for five years but was still searching for a job which would allow him to see his family more often.

Kerry asked the owner of the Post Office next door how he could become a Postmaster himself.

“I found the Post Office in Farnborough and the rest is history,” Kerry said, “we bought the Post Office and in January 1980 I was appointed as the Postmaster of Farnborough Village, Orpington.”

In the 80s everything was still manual, from pensions to bill payments, so Kerry’s wife Theodora registered with the Post Office to help the day to day running of the branch along with one staff member.

Kerry extended his thanks to his family, customers and colleagues for their unwavering support throughout the years, he said: “A big thank you to my family for supporting me, my manager Kevin Tomlin, all the Royal Mail drivers.”

“The biggest thank you must go to my customers for all the support and love. They are the reason I stayed serving them for nearly 42 years. We wish them all the best.”

Area Manager Kevin Tomlin, said: “I want to thank Kerry for his hard work and dedication to his Farnborough community for an impressive 41 years. I wish him a very well-earned retirement.”

Kerry's last date of service is August 23. The branch is under the new management of Mrs Swarna Arulanantham and Mr Arulanantham Ramasamy from 24 August.

The branch will temporarily close on September18 at 1pm for a refurbishment, reopening on October 7.

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