Press release -
Popular postmaster, Bipin Patel, who has done so much for his Ecton Brook village, reaches 30 years' milestone
- Bipin Patel marks 30 years running Ecton Brook Post Office
- Loyal service provided in his Northamptonshire village
- Took over village pub and funded new community centre
Popular postmaster, Bipin Patel, is celebrating his 30 milestone at the helm of Ecton Brook Post Office in Northamptonshire, which has been run by his family for more than 40 years.
Bipin is truly at the heart of his village. He not only runs the Post Office, but he took over the pub and restaurant when it was at risk of closure. It’s now called The Jungle @ Bips.
The very kind-hearted postmaster also donated £500,000 of his own money to fund a community centre in Ecton Brook in 2017, called the Bipin Brook Community Centre. Recently Bipin also became a parish councillor.
Postmaster Bipin Patel with his long-service award.
Bipin and his family, originally from Uganda, had to flee persecution under Idi Amin’s Ugandan military dictatorship. They settled in the UK and many of his family took on shops and post offices, including his brother and twin sister.
Ecton Brook Post Office and newsagents has been run by the Patel family since 1984, at first with Bipin’s father at the helm. Bipin then became postmaster on 21 September 1995.
Ecton Brook Postmaster Bipin Patel, said: “This is a good, tight-knit, community. I’m a good listener and I know my customers well. People often come to talk to me for advice and I am happy to help.
“I have got to know people so well. It’s great serving the community and to see the children grow older and what they go on to do with their lives. My family joke that I can’t go anywhere without bumping into someone that I know.
“Running a post office is the best sort of shop to run, its totally different from running any other shop, as people really trust you and you build up relationships with people. I’m like a father figure.
“I pride myself on clean and spotless businesses and great customer service.
“I really care about my community. I couldn’t let the pub close and a community centre was really needed, so I helped to fund it. I like to do what I can to support good causes, including most recently the Cynthia Spencer Hospice – donating money from teas and coffees at the pub to this charity.
“Ecton Post Office and shop stayed open throughout the pandemic as people didn’t want to travel and they wanted to stay in the village to send their mail and parcels, pay bills and to do their banking.”
Bipin also devotes time to the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters to support other postmasters and he was regional president and still today regular meetings are held at his pub and restaurant.
He works hard, but he still finds time to enjoy playing badminton.
Post Office Regional Manager, Tony Sanghera, said: “I really want to really thank Bipin Patel for the 1st class service that he provides to his village. He has reached the 30 years’ major milestone as postmaster for Ecton Brook, but he’s been involved with this family business for more than 40 years.
“Bipin really does go the extra mile for his community and he has been very generous funding the community centre and is always keen to support good causes and to help residents and other postmasters.”
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- With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
- Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
- Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
- Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on its cash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; and; bill payments services.
- Research has found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
- 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.
