Highlights
- Postmistress Roopie Gill is back at the helm of Wattville Road Post Office
- Roopie was one of the postmasters wrongly convicted in Horizon Post Office scandal
- Her family have run the newsagent’s shop in Handworth for nearly 50 years
A big community celebration was held on Monday (18 August) to mark Roopie Gill becoming postmistress again for Wattville Road Post Office after her wrongful criminal conviction.
Gill was one of the hundreds of postmasters wrongly prosecuted for shortfalls in their post office accounts, based on unreliable Horizon data.
Having her criminal conviction overturned paved the way for Gill to successfully apply to become postmistress once more for Wattville Road Post Office in Handworth.
Gill has become the first postmaster to take on their former branch. The popular postmistress is overjoyed to be serving her post office customers again and is very proud and positive to be back at the helm.
All her family are thrilled too, including partner Mani. Together they cut the ribbon to mark the monumental moment of her reappointment. The celebration was attended by councillors, family, customers and Post Office chairman Nigel Railton.
Handsworth community celebrates Roopie Gill’s return as postmistress
“This is a very joyous day getting Wattville Road Post Office back and being able to celebrate this occasion with family, customers and special guests,” Gill said.
“There have been cheers of delight from customers when they found out that I would be the postmistress again – they are over the moon, and so I am! It’s great to be back serving my Post Office customers again.”
Dad’s wish
Gill’s dad, Nirmal Singh Kailey, had always been convinced of her innocence. It had been his long-held wish, before he passed away, that Gill, would one day be postmistress again. Sadly, he died before her conviction was quashed, but his wish has now been fulfilled.
“I wanted to attend this event to warmly welcome Roopie Gill back as the postmistress for Wattville Road Post Office. Her experiences were part of a shameful time in Post Office history and I sincerely apologise to her and everyone affected by this scandal,” Railton said.
“I know Roopie is now focused on the future, serving her customers and running a successful branch. It’s my job to make sure she has the tools in place to do so and we are looking forward to working in partnership with her.”
Post Office chairman Nigel Railton (L) attended the event celebrating Roopie Gill's reappointment as postmistresswww.asiantrader.biz
The Gill family took on the newsagent’s and post office nearly 50 years ago. Gill’s dad was one of the first Asian postmasters outside of London. In 2005, she took over at the helm.
Devastatingly, in 2009 due to unexplained discrepancies in her post office finances, Gill was suspended, then wrongly prosecuted for fraud and theft.
The family carried on running the shop at 177 Holyhead Road, Birmingham, and Post Office appointed a temporary postmaster to operate the branch.
Post Office listened to Gill’s request to run the post office again and was able to reappoint her as postmistress.
Gill has undertaken a facelift of the post office to welcome back her customers.