Tributes paid to Winsford sub-postmaster Tom Sandbach

Tom ran Over Post Office, on Delamere Street, which served around 2,000 customers every week, from 1982 to 2000.

He and his family lived in the house next door until 1987, when they moved to Swanlow Lane and leased their former home to tenants, who tried to tunnel through the cellar to get at the post office safe.

Tom was also greensman for Ways Green Conservative Club, and took great pleasure in maintaining its bowling green to an immaculate standard.

Tom’s son, Peter Sandbach, said: “It’s the end of an era for our family. He was just a smashing chap.

“His kindness and generosity were unparalleled. He’d help anyone.  

“Absolutely everybody knew him in Winsford, and I’ve no doubt they’ll all remember a truly decent man.”

Thomas Sandbach was born in Wharton on April 8, 1944, to Eric and Eliza Sandbach, née Ashmore, along with twin sister, Valerie.  

Tom and Joyce Sandbach (centre) with parents on their wedding day at St Chad's Church on August 30, 1965 (Image: Peter Sandbach)

After leaving Wharton School at just 14 years old, Tom went to work for Vale Royal Council as a rent collector, and at 21, married Joyce England at St Chad’s Church in Winsford in August 1965.

The couple had two children – Peter, in 1973, and Emma, in 1980.

Tom and Joyce took on Over Post Office in 1982, which he always claimed, at the time, was the busiest in the North West postal district.

Naturally, back then, the post office was the beating heart of the Over community, where people not only went to buy stamps and collect their pensions, but also to see old friends and catch up on local gossip.

Tom thrived on this, according to Peter, who remembers those times well, as he grew up in the house next door.

“Dad knew all the gossip, and about everything that was going on,” he added.

“I remember walking around town with him, and we couldn’t get anywhere because people kept stopping to talk to him.

Though Tom fought cancer for four years, he managed to maintain good quality of life until very near the end, said son Peter (Image: Peter Sandbach)

“Thursday was pension day, but only about half of them were coming in for their money. The other half were just coming in for a chat.

“He was also a sucker for a sob story. He’d help anyone out, if he possibly could.

“That how someone ended up trying to tunnel into the post office from the house next door.

“Some people he knew were desperate for somewhere to live, and he let them have our old house.

“They hadn’t paid the rent for a few months, and when they finally left, we found they’d tried to dig a hole from the cellar right through into the safe room.

“He was horrified, I can tell you.

“Then a few years later, he was held up. He went into the stockroom one morning, and these guys in balaclavas were waiting for him.

“They made him open the safe, bound and gagged him, and robbed the place.

“It was very traumatic, but he bounced back pretty quick, as was his way.”

Tom served as sub-postmaster at Over until 2000, when he was widowed as Joyce, for whom he cared for several years, succumbed to early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Later Tom formed another relationship with Pam Clarke, and the couple lived happily together for almost 20 years.

In his retirement, Tom indulged his love of crown green bowling, serving as greensman for Ways Green Conservative Club for almost two decades.

He put just as much effort into his own front lawn as the bowling green, says Peter, which was the envy of Swanlow Lane for 35 years.  

Tom is survived by his partner, Pam Clarke, a son and daughter, and four grandchildren (Image: Peter Sandbach)

Peter will always remember a supportive father, who was there when called upon, yet always managed to do his duties with a light touch.

“He was a fantastic father - very easy-going and personable. He supported my sister and I in whatever we got up to, but he never put too much pressure on us.

“His wisdom really helped us get on in life.

“My children and I got to spend his last Christmas with him, and we got to say our goodbyes.

“We’re grateful for that, as some people don’t get the chance.”

Though Tom fought cancer for four years, Peter says it was only in the last three months his quality of life began to deteriorate.

He died peacefully at home on Friday, January 5.

He is survived by Peter and Emma, his grandchildren Eric, Patti, Joyce, and Jack, twin sister Valerie, and his beloved partner, Pam Clarke.

A funeral service will be held at St Chad`s Church, Over, on Thursday,  January 25, at 11am, followed by interment in the churchyard.