A 93-year-old postmistress – believed to be the country’s oldest – is retiring after 80 years of service.

Kay White started working at the Post Office in her home village of Claverley, Shropshire, at just 14.

In 1960 she became the branch’s postmistress, a position she has held ever since.

She runs the post office with her 75-year-old niece Ann Madeley and locals say her services will be greatly missed when the branch closes this month.

“I never thought I would live ’til now,” Ms White said. “I thought I shall die and the place will all be sold and I shouldn’t deal with all this.”

The Post Office was closed temporarily earlier this year during the coronavirus lockdown restrictions due to Ms White and her niece’s health, giving the villagers a taste of the community without its postmistress.

“Some people come daily just to say hello and speak to Kay,” Rev Garry Ward said, adding that people “really felt the loss“.

“The Post Office is the heart of the village and Kay is a big part of that.”

Ms White started her career doing the accounts, something she still remembers despite the developments in technology.

At the age of 14, she said the then postmistress, Mrs Drew, asked her mother if the teenager would come and help in the office.

“In those days, if your mother says you’re going to do something, you do it, and that’s how I came to be here,” Ms White said.

In 2010, Ms White was awarded an MBE for her services to the community.

Linda Sage, who runs Claverley’s hairdressers, said her impact has been “absolutely immense“.

“She is an absolute character and the person who will miss the Post Office the most is Kay herself,” she said.

“It’s just been her life.”

source (news and pictures): BBC News

A cikk elolvasása után válaszolj a következő kérdésekre a cikkben olvasott információk alapján.

When did Kay start working at the Post Office?
How old was Kay when she started working at the Post Office?
What is the relationship between Kay and her colleague?
What was Kay’s idea about her life?
Why was the Post Office closed down earlier this year?
Why did she start working at the Post Office?
Who will miss the Post Office the most and why?

keys/megoldások: 1. in 1960; 2. she was 14; 3. they are family members, Ann is her niece; 4. She thought she shall/should die and the place will/would all be sold and she shouldn’t deal with all this.; 5. because of/due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions protecting Kay’s and her niece’s health; 6. because the then postmistress, Mrs Drew, asked her mother if her teenager would come and help in the office and her mother told Kay to do it.; 7. Kay because it has just been her life

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2020 decemberi szám

Címke: szövegértéses feladat alapfokon

80 éve a posta szolgálatában – szókincs és olvasott szövegértés