The Post Office and Shop
The Post Office and Shop has been in Harlaston for over 100 years. Unfortunately, the post office has now closed.
Mrs Ralph used to run the Post Office in the 1970's.
Tony and Val Palmer took over the Post Office around 1977
The shop and Post Office was extended and even offered B&B
Post Office Row was built around 1900.
Mr. and Mrs. Winter came to live there in 1907, Mr. Winter was a signalman in the signal box near Elford railway station and Mrs. Winter ran the shop and Post Office. When she died in about 1942 various people helped out invluding the ladies Curly College and Gertie Ramssell who lived at no. 4 Post Office Row.
In 1948 Kitty Winter left the Post Office and moved to Manor Lane.
Mr. Jack and Mrs. Margaret Raybone then took over the shop and Post Office, but in 1951 they sold the business to Mr. Les and Mrs. Cath Ralph. With their daughter they stayed until 1977 when Mr. Tony and Mrs. Val Palmer moved in and enlarged the premises.
Fastest Milkman around?
Jeremy Palmer... the Harlaston milkman who's racing ahead.
Tamworth Herald 1989
Harlaston milkman Jeremy Palmer has become well known for driving a bright red, white and yellow rally car as the milk float he uses on his villages round every morning.
Jeremy, aged 22, has spent months building a Fiesta racer out of two scrap cars, and now he and his co-driver Stuart Perry, from Alrewas, have entered their first event - to take fifth place out of 22.
They were competing in a Cannock and district car club ralletat Wilbarston Airfield and came home "very happy" with the result.
Jeremy has already secured sponsorship from several firms and is now set for the next race event at the end of the month.
His rally car, which competes in the 1300cc class, was built from a scrap £40 scrap body shell of one fiesta and a "written-off" version of a Super Sport. The two were welded together, strengthened and painted at a cost of £2000 overall.
"You could say I'm the fastest milkman in town," joked Jeremy, whose parents Val and Tony run the village store and Post Office.
Parish Magazine 2020
Some Happy News.
It is good to hear that Tony at the Post Office has become a grandad again and we send congratulations to Mark and Joanne on the birth of their daughter- Tony's granddaughter. We are also very grateful that Tony is keeping his customers supplied with bread, eggs, milk and other essential items. His help and support is much appreciated.
Parish Magazine 2020.
It is with very deep regret that we have to announce that the Post Office is having to close.
It was in August 1977 that Tony, Val and their three boys came to the village and bought the shop and the Post Office. At that time the shop was one small room with a school desk type counter with a few groceries on a couple of shelves. They soon began work to improve and extend the area. Val became Post Mistress and Tony started a milk round travelling many miles to service all the local villages.
Sadly Val became ill and passed away. Tony took over as Post Master and for the last 43 years has worked long hours to provide a first class service to all the villagers and villages in the Mease Valley and further afield.
Tony - We say a very sincere THANK YOU for all your help, support and dedication over the years. However, can we remind everyone the shop is still running and will be open during the usual hours so please support your local business.
