World-renowned novelist Dame Jilly Cooper has revealed to Stroud Times her sadness following the imminent closures of The Bear Inn and Bisley Post Office.
The pub, post office and George Stores have been go-to destinations for Dame Jilly, who has lived in the village for more than 40 years and celebrated her 88th birthday last Friday.
She told Stroud Times: “I am utterly heartbroken that not only the wonderful George Stores and Bisley Post Office are closing down on Friday, but also our lovely pub The Bear Inn is shutting the following week.”
Dame Jilly, whose critically-acclaimed TV series, Rivals, based on her book, has recently been renewed by Disney+ for a second series, added: “Since I moved to the village with my family in 1982, the village shop has been a constant lifeline, not only for the daily supply of my newspapers and magazines, but also always there for general groceries.
“The loss of the Post Office is a huge blow as it has been an absolute necessity for sending out all my letters and correspondence around the world.”
The Bear Inn is due to shut on March 9, but owners Punch Pubs & Co are hoping to find new tenants to run the Grade II listed building. Dame Jilly added: “The lovely Bear Inn has also always been a haven for delicious food and a fantastic meeting place for the residents of Bisley, and a wonderful place for us to welcome visitors to the village. I can’t bear it – to lose them all in such a short space of time is an incredibly sad time for the residents of Bisley and beyond.”
A Bisley resident told Stroud Times: “This is devastating news. The pub, post office and shop are part of the fabric of village life, but at least we still have the Stirrup Cup as a pub.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “The Post Office has undertaken a comprehensive review of the network to ensure that it continues to meet evolving customer needs in a very challenging economic climate. This review examined the network at a very detailed, local level, analysing customer demand and accessibility of Post Office products and services.
“Consequently, it has informed our plans for the Network as we work to ensure
that, our funding and resources are allocated to deliver maximum benefit for all customers. At this time, therefore, we are not looking to replace Bisley Post Office.”
The nearest post offices to Bisley can be found at the Green, Eastcombe and Oakridge Lynch.
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