Customers praise for village store’s ‘extra mile’
A VILLAGE shop is going the extra mile during the virus pandemic to ensure vulnerable and self-isolating customers get food.
Manager at Hurst Convenience Stores, Jayne Overington, says the store has been making deliveries to people in the village and surrounding area.
The pandemic has meant many more customers using the shop and alcohol sales have “hit the roof”.
The big rise in online shopping has meant the Post Office, in the same building, is busier than usual, handling return of more unwanted items.
Customers have praised the nine staff for their kindness and help.
Wokingham. Today reader Peter Lee, 69, of Hurst said: “The shop and Post Office have stayed open and well stocked for us all through the pandemic. My wife Judith and I would like to thank them.
“They had bread and milk all the time, when some supermarkets hadn’t got them.
“Their newspapers keep me going.
“If I haven’t got a paper I can’t do anything. I send a lot of letters so I’ve needed stamps from the Post Office.”
He was keen to name “all the lovely staff”. In addition to manager Mrs Overington and her daughter Jemma Tyrrell, they are River Keohane, Paul Robinson, Natasha Williams, Theresa Phillips and her daughter Kellie Seddon, Rychard Nutley and Post Office manager Debbie Kaur.
Mr Lee praised his dustmen and also postman Jason for keeping up deliveries. “That’s good as we’re not on the internet,” he added.
Their daughter, now Susan Stewart, a former Holt School pupil, and her brothers Robert of Hurst and Simon of Finchampstead “have been looking after us verywell,” said Mr Lee.
He has just retired after being gardener for the Godsal family at Haines Hill, Hurst, for 31 years.
Mrs Overington said: “We’ve been making deliveries to vulnerable and selfisolating people in Hurst, Winnersh and Twyford, taking orders and payment over the phone.
“Our sales have gone up a lot. We get in extra stock like bread, milk and eggs, essentials that people would rather not travel to a supermarket for. Alcohol sales, wines, beers, lagers and ciders, have hit the roof with pubs and other places closed.
“I’ve been ringing round suppliers to get some items.”
Villagers had welcomed deliveries of flour and yeast, not available elsewhere.
Mrs Overington added: “The shop and Post Office are really at the heart of the village. I’d like to thank our staff who work hard, cleaning everything all the time. We allow three customers in the shop at once.”
Ben Barnard, 22, of Hurst, posting parcels, said: “It’s great to have a local Post Office, otherwise we’d have to go to Wokingham.”
Post Office manager Debbie said: “The Post Office has been very busy. Since lockdown people have been shopping more online – and then needing to return unwanted items.”
Closure of other local Post Offices had also increased custom at Hurst. One person is allowed in the Post Office at a time.