Family tributes to popular postmaster who died aged 87

A FAMILIAR face from the Stoke Heath community has died, with family describing him as “compassionate, humble and devout.”

Piara Singh Gill made a huge impact at home and abroad, and family say he spent his life working hard for the things that mattered.

Mr Singh Gill was the postmaster at Stoke Heath post office for more than 15 years, and spent much of his time looking after those around him, as well as funding the building of a temple in his village in India.

Mr Singh Gill was born in Raipur, a village in the Punjab region of India, on August 11 1932, where het met and married his wife Swarn Kaur in 1957.

He was one of five brothers and two sisters, and came to England in 1962, settling in Coventry in 1990.

The couple first lived in Kettering where Mr Singh Gill worked in the booming manufacturing industry.

Son Harjinder Singh Gill said: “Dad worked for British Steel for a long time. He was also the main community organiser for building the first Sikh Temple in Kettering.”

The temple that Harjinder is referring to is the Singh Sabha Gurdwara, which still remains home to a thriving Sikh community in Kettering.

“He arrived in Kettering, and set up this temple. People in the community would ask him for advice and he would play the role of translator,” Harjinder said.

In these early stages, Mr Singh Gill helped that Sikh community in Kettering consolidate an identity far from home, and he went to great lengths to make sure it would be there to stay.

“Dad brought the Guru Granth Sahid (a religious artefact) all the way over from India to the temple in Kettering. He was so devout, he kept it on his head for the whole journey to give it the highest respect, even on the plane.”

As time went on, Mr Singh Gill decided to hang up his overalls, and open a paper shop in Kettering. From there, he moved to Coventry with his family and opened up a post office in Stoke Heath in 1990, which he ran for just over 15 years.

Harjinder has fond memories of the family business.

“It was an amazing time, I used to go to school and come back and help with mopping up and tidying up and we used to sit down and have relatives come over to spend time with us,” he said. “Dad continued to run the post office despite being a carer for my mum who unfortunately had a stroke, and looked after me too.”

Harjinder’s mum Swarn was a teacher, but subsequently had a stroke and became disabled. Swarn died in 2014.

Harjinder speaks of his father being incredibly devout: “He would wake up at 5am to pray, get my mum up, and when I was younger he would get me ready too.

“He was a really amazing, lively person, well liked and dynamic and loved having fun. He was compassionate and humble.”

Mr Singh Gill continued to fund causes he cared about back in Raipur, his village in India. He funded free eye clincs every year, and also sent the funds over and constructed a Gurdwara in Raipur, the first ever one for that village.

His dedication to his religion was there until the end, because Mr Singh Gill passed away in the arms of his son whilst they were praying at their Gurdwara in Coventry, the Guru Nanaksar Temple on Foleshill Road.

“He accepted his death with bravery and honour. We want to thank all of our family and friends at the gurdwara and in the community for their support.”

And what would he want us to remember? Harjinder said: “He would say now to work hard, be honest, achieve things and never forget God.”

Mr Singh Gill is survived by his son Harjinder Singh Gill.