Postmaster receives royal recognition for services to Ashburton community

Stuart Rogers, Postmaster of Ashburton Post Office branch, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 7DD is to receive royal recognition for services to the local community in Ashburton in Devon.

It was announced in the Queens’ Birthday Honours list that Stuart is to receive the British Empire Medal in recognition of the contribution that he has made to the Post Office and Community as Postmaster of Ashburton Post Office branch.

Stuart took over the branch in 2013 helping to preserve this vital service for the local community, and since that time has set about successfully implementing his vision to create and invest in a community hub that provides vital services for residents and businesses in the town.

As well as helping to preserve Post Office services, Stuart has also been instrumental in helping ensure the continuation of library services in the town. Working with Devon Libraries the service was co-located in the Post Office in a rent free partnership.

The Post Office, which was modernised in 2015, provides an essential community hub and - with all of the local bank branches closing - Stuart has worked tirelessly to raise local awareness of the banking services that are available at the Post Office counter, ensuring that his customers are not disadvantaged and can continue to access cash and everyday banking services.

In addition to providing face to face banking services, Stuart also secured an external ATM for his branch, providing added convenience for customers. He and his wife Jackie also hit upon a unique way of giving back to the community, and at the same time boosting business, by donating 2p per customer transaction at the Post Office ATM to a local charity fund that benefits the local community. Those pennies have really added up and thousands of pounds has been donated as a result of the scheme.

On learning of the award, Stuart was typically humble and said:

“I am absolutely shocked, and extremely delighted to be recognised with this honour. We have always worked to the ethos that the Post Office should actively participate in the town, not just operate in it, and that has been part of everything that we do. This honour is not just for me, but for all of the team, and for the whole of Ashburton which is a fantastic community that I am proud to be a part of”.

Stuart also stressed the importance of his customers, saying:

“Our customers make the Post Office what it is and without their support there would be no branch. I cannot thank them enough, they are the real heroes.”

Group Chief Executive of Post Office, Paula Vennells, said:

“I am absolutely delighted for Stuart - this award is so well deserved and is real recognition of the dedication and commitment that he has shown in delivering Post Office services and so much more.

“My thanks to Stuart, Jackie and all of the team at Ashburton, not only for providing excellent customer service, but also ensuring that the Post Office really is at the heart of the local community”

Central Devon MP, Rt Hon Mel Stride MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, fully supported the award, adding:

“Stuart’s honour is completely deserved. He has done a huge amount to promote post offices both locally and at the national level. He has also taken a community minded approach to all that he has done. Ashburton is lucky to have him and this honour recognises the huge contribution that he has made to so many locally.”

As well as his charitable contribution to the local community through his ATM scheme Stuart also organises an annual competition for local school children to design a Christmas card that is produced and sold locally for charitable causes, and has operated a Post Office designed float at the Ashburton Carnival.

He has also introduced the first ever Postmaster apprenticeship scheme, again with an eye on giving something back to the local community. This has created a career path for a young person who receives full training on their way to attaining NVQ level 4 while earning, an innovative scheme recognised by the then Prime Minister, David Cameron. Joanna Giles is the first apprentice to work behind the counter and Stuart was also fully supportive of her recent fundraising challenge ‘Challenge JOPO’ which saw her travel to the most southern, western, northern and eastern Post Offices in the UK whilst not paying for any travel as part of her mission.

More recently Stuart was successfully appointed as South West Regional Board Member for the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, which will enable Stuart to assist other Postmasters in ensuring that their Post Offices are supported in their local communities.