Post Office manager Fernhill Heath celebrates 50 years

Julie Savage has celebrated the 50th anniversary of the start of her career, working at Post Offices across Worcestershire.

For the past 35 years, Mrs Savage has worked at Fernhill Heath Post Office and has been the manager for nearly nine years.

Postmaster Alan Kasch is full of admiration for the way that she runs the branch, helps train colleagues and assists other postmasters too.

To mark her 'impressive career', which began in May 1974, Mr Kasch is organising a night out with Mrs Savage and his team to celebrate.

VALUED: L-R Postmaster Alan Kasch, manager Julie Savage and Post Office area manager Mat Wilkes (Image: Post Office)

Post Office area manager, Mat Wilkes, presented a bouquet of flowers to Julie in appreciation of her 'excellent Post Office knowledge and customer service'.

As a child, Mrs Savage, nee Godfrey, had always wanted to work a Post Office as her best friend’s mum was postmistress for Ombersley Post Office, the village where she grew up.

However, her first job after leaving school was in a bank, but she still yearned to work in a Post Office, with lots of face-to-face interaction with customers.  Now with so many bank branch closures, Fernhill Heath Post Office and other Post Offices, do lots of personal and business banking on behalf of all the high street banks.

Her first role was at Worcester Crown Office and she has done relief work at Droitwich Crown Office, outreach work at village halls, and been a Post Office auditor and trainer.

After having three children and a break to raise them, she returned to work at her local branch – Fernhill Heath in 1989 with Postmistress, Linda Jeffrey.

Originally the branch was across the road until Fernhill Post Office moved to its current location inside the Costcutter convenience store, run by Alan Kasch, in 2015. He became Fernhill Heath postmaster and Julie is Post Office manager.

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Mrs Savage, 67, still works work part-time as she helps look after her six grandchildren and was caring for her elderly mother who sadly died in 2020.

“I have no plans to retire yet as I love my job serving people. When I help to train new people I do it so that I don’t overload them information all at once, but I explain simply and build on that. I always say to my team, any problems when I’m not working, just give me a call as I can quickly advise them over the phone," she said.

Mr Kasch, said: “Julie is a real gem. She really does go above and beyond. Julie’s such a lovely person, she’s thorough and knowledgeable, and really likes to help people."

Mr Wilkes, said: “I want to sincerely thank Julie for her amazing work serving Post Office customers in Worcestershire spanning five decades. She really cares about her community. She is very supportive to colleagues and trains people well, sharing her great knowledge.”