A postmistress who has served a Powys community over the course of four decades has retired from her beloved role.

Postmistress Audrey Jones has retired from her role at the head of Llanwddyn Post Office after 35 years, at the age of 82.

She is also credited as one of the founders of the Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon, having suggested the idea as a fundraiser in 1988 and she sat on the event’s committee for every year since.

She first became postmistress in October 1993, when the post office was moved to Llanwddyn Community Centre.

On her role within the community as its postmistress, she said: “The best thing about being a postmistress has been meeting people and helping the community. Elderly customers need extra help, and I was able to support them.

“I was able to stay open throughout the pandemic and people really appreciated that they could still get the vital services of posting, bill payments, banking and cash withdrawals. I am sorry that I need to retire and that I’m physically unable to stay on until a replacement Post Office service can be found, but my customers understand.”

Staffordshire-born Audrey moved to Llawddyn when she met her husband Dai, who was born and bred in the area.

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In the 1980s one of her customers was looking for a fundraising idea for St Wddyn Church where they attended, inspiring her to suggest a half marathon around Lake Vyrnwy.

Having started in 1988, the marathon has continued to run every year, only missing 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As postmistress, Audrey also organised annual Christmas hamper raffles benefitting many charities such as the Hope House Children’s Hospice near Oswestry. Raffles and cake bakes have also raised £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Care.

For her fundraising, Audrey was a winner at the Post Office Active in the Community Award event in Birmingham, being presented with £500 in recognition of her achievements, which she donated to the Hope House Children’s Hospice.

Audrey added: “I am also happy to have helped many good causes over the years with fundraising.”

Post Office Area Manager, Jennifer Pougunas, said: “Audrey has done a tremendous job as Postmistress serving the community for more than three decades and she has also worked tirelessly helping to raise so much money for so many worthy causes.”