Patriotic postmaster will ring local church bells to mark the King’s coronation

A PATRIOTIC postmaster has decorated his Coombe Bissett Post Office and village shop and will be ringing the local church bells to mark King Charles III’s coronation.

Charles May has been Coombe Bissett’s postmaster since 2008 and throughout that time he has regularly rung the bells at the nearby church, including to celebrate the Queen’s jubilee and to mark her passing.

Now Charles and the other bell ringers from St Michael and All Angels are preparing their special bell peal to mark the crowning of his namesake.

Charles said: “I normally put up bunting and flags at the Post Office for special royal occasions, including last year’s platinum jubilee for the Queen. Now we have extra decorations for the coronation showing our new King Charles III.

“Coombe Bissett is only a small village but we like to show our support for the royal family.

“It was a very sad day when the Queen died. It was an honour to follow royal protocol to ring the bells to mark her death and it will be a privilege to peal the bells to proclaim the crowning of our new King.”

Coombe Bissett Stores and Post Office in Homington Road will be open as normal until 1pm on Saturday, 6th May.

It will then be closed on the Sunday and the Bank Holiday Monday so that Charles and his team can watch the coronation and join in with the community celebrations in the village.

City flag flown at half mast in honour of former mayor

SALISBURY’S former mayor, Kathleen Cooper-Joel, has passed away at the age of 96.

She was city mayor between 1990-91 and as a mark of respect the city flag will be flown at half mast on the Guildhall until sunset on the day of the funeral.

The city council expressed its condolences to her family and friends.

Current mayor, Cllr Tom Corbin, said: “Kathleen maintained her love and interest in seeing the best for Salisbury and its people. She was very well known and respected and many will mourn her passing.”

Originally from Liverpool, she moved to Salisbury as a 21-year-old and became a successful businesswoman. Motorists who fill-up at the Tinkerbell Service Station in Barford St Martin may not realise that it was opened by Kathleen and her husband, Cecil, in 1955.

She played an active role on the planning committee during her time as a councillor and recently successfully campaigned to replace credit card-only parking in the Salt Lane Car Park with the ability to use both cash and cards.