Margaret humbled to receive her BEM

Margaret humbled to receive her BEM

21 June 2017

CROSSGAR’S Margaret Ringland says she is “honoured” to receive a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The former post mistress — who spent her entire working life in the village — will be formally presented with her award at a special reception at Hillsborough Castle this September.

Admitting to being “Crossgar born and bred,” Margaret started her working life with the village Post Office after completing a commerce course and what was the old Downpatrick Technical College.

Last year, after over 57 years’ sterling service, Margaret retired when the Post Office relocated to the new SuperValu store, just a short distance from its former Downpatrick Street base.

While now taking time to enjoy her retirement and spending more time in the garden, Margaret admits she had no idea who nominated her for a BEM and while she has tried to hazzard a guess, has been unable to come up with a definitive name.

“It is so lovely to have been nominated for this award and I am very honoured,” she continued. “All I was doing was my job and I have been nominated for this. It came as a shock but is something I am glad to accept. 

“When I received a letter from the Cabinet Office I thought it was asking me to take part in some sort of survey. I was stunned when I read I had been nominated for a BEM. I was told confirmation would appear on line last Friday and the following morning I received a letter of official confirmation.”

Margaret was appointed postmistress in 1980, taking over from Katie Williams and for the next 36 years was at the helm of what was one of the smallest Post Offices in the Province. And while it may have been small, it was always very busy with people coming from far beyond Crossgar to use the facility.

“I loved serving the best customers in the country,” joked Margaret. “I knew everyone who came in through the door but now that I am retired I miss all the craic and the company. When you worked in the Post Office you certainly got all the local news. Crossgar was a wee family Post Office and I just loved my job. It was great.

“When I started, the mail used to be sorted in Crossgar before this moved to Downpatrick and when I was appointed the Post Office was on the opposite side of the street in the village before it moved across the road in the late 1970s. Last year of course it moved to SuperValu as part of major changes.”

Recalling her career in the Post Office Margaret beamed: “I loved my job. To receive an honour for doing your job is not something that would have ever entered my head. But I would like to thank the person who nominated me. I feel I do not deserve this honour.”

Margaret added: “I witnessed many changes over the years but news of this honour has all come as big surprise and it really is just so nice. I have been racking my brains to find out who did nominate me but have no idea.

“This honour is just so lovely and to receive this for doing my job is very humbling. While I received a voucher from the Post Office for 25 years’ service, I have never had an award like a BEM before. I am surprised and honoured and it is lovely to be recognised. I was just doing my job and don’t know whether I deserve this award, but it is very nice.”