Kuldeep Dhillon celebrates 40 years at Locking Stumps Post Office

Kuldeep Dhillon bought Locking Stumps Post Office in 1982.

He felt lonely in his previous job as a microbiologist and decided that he needed to change his career to one that involved working with people.

So for this reason, paired with seeing how his cousin who ran two post offices was at the heart of both communities, Kuldeep bought the branch.

And since running the Glover Road post office and Nisa store, Kuldeep has served and gotten to know generations of families.

Kuldeep said: “I really love being a postmaster and running my shop because of the interaction with people.

“I have earned my living from this community for the past 40 years, so I like to give something back to my community to thank them.

“I have known three generations of the same family and people know my name.

"Even young children come in and say ‘good morning Mr Dillon’."

Kuldeep Dhillon and his wife Balbir Kaur were presented with the award by Andy Kingham, Post Office retail director North and Victoria Allsop, Post Office area manager (Image: Image: Post Office)As well as running the Post Office, Kuldeep, who is a governor at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust, and his wife Balbir Kaur have always been community-minded and active members of the Sikh community in the town.

During the pandemic, the couple were part of a team of eight from their Sikh Temple who were fundraising to buy ingredients to make nutritious meals that they served to frontline NHS staff.

This initiative helped to provide 35,000 meals for those at Warrington and Halton Hospitals in the first year of the pandemic.

Kuldeep’s Nisa store’s customer loyalty scheme has also raised around £7,000 for local causes and he also supports local foodbanks with goods from the store.

Balbir also made homemade curries which she has sold to raise £4,000 to buy more products for foodbanks.

After 40 dedicated years, Kuldeep has no plans to retire from the post office and Nisa convenience store.

He added: “People ask me when I’m going to retire, but I have no plans to retire.

“I love my work serving people and having a chat and a laugh with customers.

“I joke with customers that what would I do if I retired.

“I would be bored at home, I would have to go to the pub to chat with strangers for someone to talk to!

“Why do that when I can carry on working here where I can chat with so many people I know."

“I grew up in Wolverhampton and I did think at one point that I would retire back there where I have a small group of friends.

“My mind was changed by a teenage girl. On one occasion I saw her in the shop just waiting around.

“I asked if I could help and she told me that there were two strangers in the shop that she didn’t recognise and that she was staying until they had left, just in case they were up to no good.

“That showed me just how much people care and look out for me.

“I have hundreds of friends here - so why move back to an area where I have just a few.”

Post Office area manager Victoria Allsop said: “Kuldeep is a pillar of the community.

“He regards the local community as his own family.

“He knows everyone in this neighbourhood. He is highly regarded and respected by all his customers for the way he runs his shop, the rapport with customers and the fact that he really cares about his community.

“Kuldeep and his wife, Balbir, have done so much to raise funds and to support vulnerable and isolated people in Lockings Stump and for those working or receiving treatment at the nearby hospital. They are inspirational.”