Unforgettable year for Milton Keynes Post Office manager retiring after 41 years of service
The Milton Keynes Post Office manager who was on duty during an arson attack in June, is retiring early after serving the city for 41 years.
It’s the end of an era for retiring Deborah Penwarne who has worked at Milton Keynes Post Office for 41 of her 43-year-career with the company. Deborah, who is born and bred in the area, is taking an early retirement next week as Milton Keynes Post Office branch manager.
The branch has been based at five different locations since Deborah started working there - including two unexpected, temporary, moves this year. In June there was a serious fire at the branch in Midsummer Boulevard whilst open to the public. Customers, Deborah and her team had to flee the blaze.
Thankfully, no one was injured, despite the large amount of damage inflicted on the property. Following the event, a man from London has recently been charged with arson with intent to endanger life. Deborah and her tight-knit team, supported each other through the ordeal. A temporary branch at the Civic Centre was reopened in July. It relocated to the shopping centre a few weeks ago.
Deborah said: “We were all really pleased when the temporary branch re-opened after just five weeks. The team was all glad to be back together. Staff found the normal routine of serving customers reassuring and they enjoyed seeing their regular customers again. People were very grateful that the busy branch in the city centre had re-opened.”
The temporary location will close on Tuesday, November 25 at 3pm due to major repairs having to be carried out. It will re-open at its normal location on Wednesday, November 26 at 1pm. From then onwards, the branch will no longer be directly managed by Post Office.
Deborah said: “What a year it has been! I will never forget 2025. In the spring we found out that Milton Keynes branch and all the UK’s remaining directly managed branches were to be franchised by the autumn. I knew then that I wanted to retire. Then there was the serious fire – no one expects that to happen. When the temporary branch re-opened, we were so pleased we got to work with each other again. We are going out for a lovely meal next week to mark the end of an era.
“It is going to be very strange this December as I’m normally really busy working in the run-up to Christmas. I’ve only once not worked in December - when I was on maternity leave. Now I won’t have to rush with my Christmas shopping or other festive preparations.”
When the branch returns to its normal location on November 26 it will be under new management. UOE Stores is taking over the running of this branch. Universal Office Equipment UK LTD already runs Post Offices in the UK. Milton Keynes will be its 41st branch.
Post Office Limited confirmed in April that it is moving to a fully franchised network, with its remaining 108 branches to be run by retail partners. Milton Keynes Post Office is the second to last branch in the UK to be franchised.
Paul Mead, Post Office Head of Directly Managed Branches said: “Staff have been amazing and very committed to serving their community. They’ve been through the ordeal of the fire, and they’ve still carried on loyally serving customers.
“Milton Keynes is a branch I managed from early in my career and I managed Deb for a number of years, so I have had the pleasure of working with Deb for many years. Deb has always led by example. She’s hard-working, cares about her customers and staff. I wish her a very well-earned retirement.”
Staff currently at the Milton Keynes branch were given the opportunity to transfer to the new operator. Deborah, who turns 60 this December has decided to take early retirement and is eagerly awaiting the birth of her first grandchild next year.