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A family who fled Uganda in 1972 and were the first Ugandan family offered sanctuary in Warrington, have repaid the warm welcome that they received by serving their community for over 50 years.
Kantilal Kanani, better known as Ken, has just retired after 27 years as postmaster for Padgate Lane Post Office in Warrington. His wife, Manjula, also retired earlier this year after running the convenience store alongside the branch since May 1997.
On October 9 1972, Ken, Manjula and their two young daughters arrived in Warrington on a snowy day along with Ken’s siblings and their 95-year-old Granddad. Their arrival was featured in the local newspaper. The family had never seen snow before and they were given blankets and toys by the Warrington community to help them.
Their daughter, Nisha, who was just 21 days old when they had to escape Uganda also has worked as part of this family business. Her sister, Jyoti, who is two years older, has also worked there during her student days.
When Ken arrived in Warrington his first job was working as a bus driver and Manjula worked in a bakery. They then opened a corner shop on Haryngton Avenue, Bewsey, in 1984. His first role in a Post Office followed in Dallam in 1997. Six months later Ken took over the Padgate Lane branch.
Daughter, Nisha, said: “Mum and Dad came over with no money in their pockets to quickly flee Idi Amin’s dictatorship. Many people settled in Leicestershire, but my parents chose Warrington and there was a lovely newspaper article about our family being welcomed including me, who was a babe in arms.
“They’ve worked very hard. It shows what can be achieved with hard work. My Dad is 78 and my Mum is 80. They’ve decided that it is time to retire and they have sold the business.
“We’re all staying in the Warrington area. We don’t want to move as the people of Warrington made us very welcome from the start, and I have grown up here, and we have got to know our customers so well. I will do some Post Office relief work.
Padgate Lane postmaster, Ken Kanani, said: “The best thing about being a postmaster is the community that we mix with. We have had a laugh, a joke and a chat. I used to make up bags of sweets for the little kids coming in.
“People were shocked that we were retiring, but it was time to step down and we found new owners, who are experienced retailers and are staff are continuing to work in the shop, so there will still be familiar faces.
“I’m so used to working hard, that I don’t know what I will do. I will try to relax more. I will now have more time for holidays now that I don’t have a business to run. I was last in Uganda two years – it’s a beautiful country. It was never that I didn’t like Uganda, but we had to flee as it was no longer safe for us to stay.”
Post Office Area Manager, Victoria Allsop, said: “Ken has always been a very positive postmaster and he is sad to be leaving Padgate Lane Post Office, but the time is right for him now to sell the family business and to take retirement.
“I want to sincerely thank Ken and Manjula and their daughter Nisha for all that they have done for the people of Warrington since 1997. They are kind and they really care about their community and are very grateful to the town being so welcoming since they arrived in the UK.”
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