Store at the heart of its community (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Store at the heart of its community

AT a time when rural shops and post offices seem under threat, residents of one Cotswold village have celebrated a continuing success story in their community.

For 30 years Long Compton village shop and post office has been a thriving business and hub of the community, thanks to the hard work of two tireless couples.

On New Year's Day friends and customers from the village and beyond were invited to an anniversary party by the owners, who expressed thanks for all the support they have received over the years.

The shop was bought in 1975 by two sisters, whose family has long links with the village, and their husbands.

Since then Colin and June Empson and Marianne and Andy Carty have worked night and day to ensure that the village maintains vital services.

Parish priest the Rev Richard Smith paid tribute to the two couples. "They are so vital to this village, without them the community really wouldn't work.

"They work all the hours there are and do so much for local people, particularly the old folk who rely on the post office. There have also been times when they have helped me - like everyone I appreciate them greatly."

As well as housing the village post office, the shop is also a newsagent delivering papers to seven villages, an off-licence, a bakery and a general store.

"We sell everything from nappy pins to Champagne," said Mr Empson, who is now one of the longest-serving postmasters in the Cotswolds. "We have also ended up being something like a Citizens' Advice Bureau - we are always here to lend people a friendly ear and help out when we can."

The workload maintained by the two couples makes it even more remarkable that they have reached their 30-year anniversary. The day begins at about 5am with newspaper deliveries and the shop is open from Monday to Saturday from 7am-6pm. Even Sunday sees the couples hard at work with the shop opening from 8am-1pm.

Despite this, and the pressures on rural businesses, Mr Empson said running the shop was not a great hardship. "It was most difficult in the early days when we were not so knowledgeable about the business as we are now. Since then we have learned a lot and it has got easier and easier."

As well as helping to run the shop, Mrs Empson also ran Long Compton Manor as a hotel up until the October before last. Alongside her sister she also baked the pastries, cakes and savouries for the shop.

Although they are all around retirement age, both couples say they have no intention of selling the business for the foreseeable future. "Officially I will reach retirement age in four months time - but I would get bored to death if I stopped now," said Mr Empson.