THE memory of Lizzie Saunders’ long service as a sub-postmistress lives on.

We recalled (Memory Lane, August 16) that she ran the post office at Over Norton, near Chipping Norton, for 53 years.

When she retired in 1960, aged 87, she received a letter of thanks and a scroll.

The brief item was spotted by members of her family.

Sharon Harris, of Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, writes: “My father-in-law, George Harris, who lives in Chipping Norton, is Lizzie Saunders’s grandson and he has that original scroll and the letter of thanks.”

The letter was signed by the then Postmaster-General, Reginald Bevins.

The Oxford Mail reported at the time that in her 53 years in charge, Mrs Saunders had never had a day off.

The paper said: “Mrs Saunders, a native of Over Norton, has been a widow since 1938.

“The shop is being taken over by her daughter and son-in-law, ex Police Superintendent Harris, who retired from the Oxfordshire Constabulary five years ago.”