MORE than 200 people turned out to a ‘goodbye tea’ for the retiring owners of the Yealmpton Post Office.

Yealmpton Community Methodist Church hosted a retirement cream tea party for Paul and Theresa Banham on Sunday, March 5, who had been at the helm of the village Post Office for eighteen years.

‘People were pouring in’, said Roger Punch, who helped organise the event, ‘We didn’t know what to expect but we were bowled over by the numbers of people who came. We had to open up the main church to accommodate them all.

‘It was a good testament to a couple who have been part of people’s everyday life in the village.’

In an emotional speech, which he had to read twice so the changing audience could all hear it, Paul said ‘this village is full of love’ and was clearly overwhelmed by the attendance.

Young and old paid tribute, and Isabella Hall presented Theresa with a bouquet of flowers.