A WELL-known postmaster hopes to spend time watching more deliveries - even though he has retired after nearly 50 years of service.

Cricket fan Howard Berry is calling it a day at Unsworth Post Office, and is handing over the reins of day to day management to his nephew Andy Nicholson, who has already worked in the business for a number of years.

His mother Gladys originally became sub-postmistress in 1946 and was joined by her husband Stanley after he completed his service during World War Two.

While studying for his A-Levels, Howard decided that the time was right to join the family business, starting working with his parents in 1966.

It was clear that retail prowess flowed in his genes, as he achieved the highest scores nationally in examinations and coursework after enrolling on the Institute of Master Grocer’s Course.

During his time there, the post office has received accolades, such as being named the best post office in Greater Manchester, but was also subject to a terrifying armed robbery in May 2011.

Howard was attacked during the raid by four men, armed with hammers and a crowbar, who were thought to have staked out the premises and waited for a cash van to be delivered.

Subsequently both Howard and customer Gary Smith, who attempted to fight off the men, were awarded police bravery awards at an Association of Chief Police Officers ceremony held in Leicestershire.

In addition, to celebrate 50 years of the post office being run by the Berry family, Howard produced a booklet describing the changes to Unsworth over those five decades, donating the advertising revenue to Spurr House care home.

Over the years, work had got in the way of cricket, and Mr Berry says he now hopes to get to Old Trafford Cricket Ground to watch Lancashire more often.

He has also been involved with Unsworth Cricket Club from a young age, playing in the first and second teams as well as serving as club chairman.

Outside of cricket, Howard has been an active Freemason, and was a governor at Mersey Drive Primary School and acted as a sponsor when Castlebrook High school was seeking science and technology status.

Mr Berry, aged 65, said: "I would like to express my really sincere thanks to the staff with whom I’ve worked for the last 48 years.

"They have been fabulous and without them we would not have succeeded.

"I would also say a massive thank you to all of our customers. Over the years we’ve lived and shared a lot. It’s been a great privilege."