Cocking village’s ‘kind and generous’ postmaster will be missed by many

The popular postmaster of Cocking will be remembered as a ‘kind and jokey’ person who will be missed by many in the north and the south of England.
Paul and Linda Henshaw outside of the Post Office and village shop in CockingPaul and Linda Henshaw outside of the Post Office and village shop in Cocking
Paul and Linda Henshaw outside of the Post Office and village shop in Cocking

Paul Henshaw, who ran the post office and village shop in Cocking with his wife Linda, passed away on January 11, surrounded by his closest family, following a short illness.

His brother Gary said: “He was the most genuine and generous person I’ve ever met.

“He was generous to a fault, he just cared about people.”

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One of eight children, Paul grew up in Macclesfield and met his wife Linda at school when they were both teenagers.

They married when Paul was 22 and had a daughter, Lisa, who now lives in Australia with her husband Chris and their daughter Marlo.

Lisa said he was the best dad she could ever have had and said she would never forget his love, generosity and kindness.

Paul and Linda ran a shop in Macclesfield and later Paul worked as the director of a transport company, living in Eastbourne for a period of time before moving to Leigh in Lancashire.

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Nineteen years later they moved to Cocking to be nearer to their daughter

Lisa and took over the Post Office and shop in the village where they soon became very much loved.

“Everybody has a story to tell about Paul,” Linda, said. “I know he will be missed by so many people and I know I will miss him every minute of the day.

“Paul was the love of my life”.

Paul, who served on Cocking Parish Council for a year, was even selected by residents to attend tea at Buckingham Palace in 2014, out of gratitude for bringing life back into the village.

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In his spare time, Paul was an avid golf player and enjoyed going to his local for the pub quiz.

At home, Paul and Linda enjoyed ’many hours’ doing jigsaws.

Paul sadly fell ill three days before Christmas with pancreatic and liver cancer, and closed the shop on December 23.

When his health declined, Paul made the decision to donate everything in the shop and despite his illness managed to fill over 30 boxes with goods which were picked up by the local foodbank.

It was an act that touched the villagers’ hearts, Gary said.

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Paul’s funeral will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, February 5, in Macclesfield and will be live-streamed to destinations in Europe and Australia for those who cannot attend the funeral, and the Blue Bell in Cocking village, where around 100 people will be gathering in honour of Paul.

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