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A “kind-hearted” shop owner who ran a Cefn Hengoed convenience store for 40 years has retired.

Lynn Hobbs, who ran Magnum Stores alongside husband Ted and son John, has also been the postmistress at the in-store post office for the past ten years.

Lynn, 69, was recently presented with a long service award from the Post Office for reaching the decade milestone.

However, due to health reasons, Lynn decided it was the right time to retire.

Lynn said: “We will really miss our customers as they are like family.

“We moved to Powys ten years ago to be near our grandchildren. We’ve commuted since and will keep going back to Cefn Hengoed to see people. 

“My husband is from this area and I moved from Brecon. I was apprehensive at first but people are very friendly here and they made me feel very welcome.”

Before taking on the shop, Lynn set up a mobile shop in 1979, delivering food within the area.

She continued: “The best thing about being a postmistress and running a shop is the social side of the job, chatting with customers and staff. We have had some excellent staff over the years too.

“We want to thank people for the custom and their friendship.”

Lynn added: “Our shop and post office stayed open throughout the pandemic. I needed to shield, but my hard-working local staff kept it going and the community really appreciated that they could stay local for the post office and their groceries.

“People were also grateful to see familiar faces.”

The shop, on Hengoed Avenue, has been taken over by husband and wife Jaswinder Singh and Navi Kaur, who have also applied to take on the running of the post office.

The couple are already well-know in the community as they run the village’s Premier convenience store.

Post Office area manager, Ceri James, said: “Lynn and Ted are very bubbly, chatty characters, who have loved serving their customers.

“Lynn has served the local community for 45 years, which is very impressive. I was delighted to present Lynn with her Post Office ten-year long service award before her departure.

“I want to wish them a very well-earned retirement.”

As Lynn and Ted embark on their retirement, the couple are looking forward to spending more time with their family and enjoying days out.

In a statement, the Post Office said: “We are working hard to restore a post office to this community as soon as possible. In the meantime, alternative branches include Hengoed and Fleur de Lis.”