It's all change at West Marton post office (From Craven Herald)

It's all change at West Marton post office

4:50pm Saturday 30th January 2010

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The success of an internet lingerie business has prompted a West Marton sub-postmaster to step down from his duties with the Royal Mail.

John Tidswell, who lives in Earby, has been sub-postmaster at West Marton since 2001, but just over two years ago, when the post office was threatened with closure, he diversified and started to sell lingerie.

His business has taken-off so successfully that he is now training local woman Leah Booker to be the new sub-postmistress.

“I’ve been working long hours,” he said. “I start the day at 5am and don’t usually finish until 9pm.

“I’ve had so much on my plate that I haven’t had much time to promote my business.”

Mr Tidswell’s business sells lingerie, health supplements and perfume and he is hoping to take on some staff to help him out within the next six months.

In December, he sold the Village Shop – which houses the Post Office – to Mrs Booker, who grew up on the family farm in West Marton.

Since then she has been running the shop and, earlier this month, started training to take on the postal duties.

She is now looking forward to taking over as sub-postmistress.

Meanwhile Mr Tidswell’s business – Femme Fatale (Online) Ltd – is experiencing its busiest time of the year.

He said sales of health supplements increased when people made their New Year’s resolutions and, with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, he was expecting lingerie to be popular with his customers.

Mr Tidswell said: “I want to take my business to the next level and I’m pleased that Leah can be fully committed to spending her time running the shop and post office.”

As the West Marton post office’s future is secure for the time being, Mrs Booker said she had no plans to branch out into another business like Mr Tidswell. However, she has been selling local game, which has proved popular with the residents of East and West Marton and people who live on the outlying farms near the villages.

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