Barry Ford was an avid stamp collector as a child, and now he and his wife Mary have moved from Florida to Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, to run the world’s oldest post office. The post office has been in continuous operation since 1712, with the Fords becoming its 17th operator in its 311-year history. Barry, a 60-year-old former RAF serviceman, was running an aircraft restoration business in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, when he read about the search for a new postmaster. The couple first bid to take over the branch three years ago, but were beaten out by another bid. When the deal fell through, the Fords got a second chance. They say they’re excited and humbled to be serving the community and happy to be back in their native Scotland.
