When a post office has stood on a street for more than 50 years it becomes an integral part of the community.
So it was very sad to see The Old Post Office branch in Harrow on the Hill finally close its doors this week. The decision to shut down five post offices in Harrow was a major blow to customers, especially those who rely on them for collecting pensions and other benefits. Boarders at Harrow School and workers from small businesses will also suffer.
Post Office Ltd said the next nearest branch is only half a mile away,but for the frail and infirm any increase in distance is going to cause them problems.
Also, customers of the College Road branch in the town centre can now look forward to longer queues. The Post Office has always been regarded as a great British tradition and long-standing institution. But the closing of this post office is yet another example of residents being offered a second class service. We wish the former postmaster every success in continuing to run the premises as a convenience store.
DIY can be dangerous
RESIDENTS in Harrow should take note that DIY can be extremely dangerous.
This is not just an excuse for men or women who do not want to do the plumbing; 100,000 people each year visit hospital for DIY-related injuries, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
These figures will be little comfort for David Beaumont, from Wolseley Road, Harrow,who inadvertently burnt down part of his house while trying to complete a painting task.
He was lucky to get out of the fire alive. Other home improvement accidents include a man from Leicester who survived after shooting himself in the heart with a nail gun in 2005. They may make it look easy on daytime television, but 70 people die each year doing jobs around the home.
Next time you lift up a hammer remember to take the right safety precautions so you do not become another DIY disaster statistic.
