A Prince among sub-postmasters

Rathcoole Post Office sub-postmaster, David Prince pictured at the surprise party to mark his retirement with his colleagues, April Oliver and new office manager, Jane Mackey. INNT 47-204-AM

A Rathcoole sub-postmaster has paid tribute to the community he served for 40 years upon his retirement.

Carrickfergus resident David Prince, 71, began working in Rathcoole in 1974 when he assumed ownership of The Squirrel sweet and stationery shop after seeing the opportunity to start his own business.

David told the Times: “I had been a rep and manager for a multi-national company but I became my own boss.

“At that time I just had the shop but in 1980 the post office became available.

“I brought it down into The Squirrel and kept it going until 1998 when I sold off the shop and kept the post office.

“I went in with Henderson Group who own Spar and from 1998 until the present I rented from them. I thought it was time for retirement!”

Working as Rathcoole’s sub-postmaster for 35 years, David became an integral part of the community.

He continued: “People are very generous in Rathcoole and I have had very good customers and friends. When I started in 1974 it was in the middle of the workers’ strikes and things were tough, but we made our way through it. It was a great opportunity to get into business.”

The sub-postmaster’s role involved paying out benefits for local people, as well as accepting the mail which was then collected and distributed by the Royal Mail.

David says that one of the highlights of his role was the opportunity to meet people. He added: “Pensioners would come in on a weekly basis. A Post Office is important as it serves the community. All postmasters are very valuable people for the area and I think their jobs are underestimated.”