Mavis Pritchard

Mavis Pritchard is the retired postmistress. She is usually met coming out of the post office, and it is suspected that this is her permanent position.

Nobody goes looking for Mavis. She finds you first, which is generally how it works, and falls into step without being asked. She will have noticed which direction you came from and what expression you are wearing. Her tone is pleasant, as though discussing the weather. Her verdicts take a few words and are not open to appeal.

She does not ask what you are doing. She tells you, and waits. A reply of “I’m taking a walk” has been met with “Of course you are.”

On Tuesday evenings she visits her sister and walks home past the harbour end. She can see the pier from her upstairs landing. Colonel Withers telephones her when he is upset, so she is kept informed about the pier in any case.

Told once that word travels, she said: “In Seabrook it walks faster than most people.” When she has said what she came to say she adjusts her bag and goes, and does not look back.

Where you will find her

On the High Street, outside the post office. Failing that, outside the baker’s or the newsagent’s. She keeps no fixed hours.