The Great Post Office Scandal in Hastings
ROSIE BROCKLEHURST
Journalist Nick Wallis, author of The Great Post Office Scandal, is coming to Hastings on Wednesday 10 May. I invited Nick to give a talk about this huge miscarriage of justice which, after a decade, is still unfolding. Nick has perhaps done the most to bring this story to public attention. His book is fantastic – a shocking thriller. Tale after tale of lives ruined broke my heart.
Over twenty years, incalculable harm has been done to over 3,000 innocent Subpostmasters and counter staff across the country. A Statutory Public Inquiry under Sir Wyn Williams has been running since Autumn 2022, and is still calling witnesses. One of them, former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells, is due to give evidence later this year.
Alongside local campaigners including Kay Avery Stallion, Patrick Glass, Rod Webb, Erica Smith, Paul Franczak, Julia Price (now Van Coevorden) and many others, I joined the brilliant community campaign to save St Leonards Crown Post Office in London Road, some years ago. That is when I first came across the name Paula Vennells. At the time I didn’t know she was responsible for pursuing innocent people, and as it turns out, tragically, 33 of them are now dead, some of whom committed suicide.
It took 20 years for the High Court to overturn the first 39 convictions in a case brought by the Justice for Sub Postmasters Alliance. Over 550 have since been quashed, but even now hundreds of victims have received no compensation. Others have not received anywhere near enough to restore them to the financial position they were in before they were prosecuted.
Solomon, who runs The Pig at 37 White Rock, hadn’t heard of the scandal until I told him. He immediately offered his venue, which seats 50, to host Nick’s talk. I’m selling tickets via Bath Publishing’s website, so I can raise funds for the Post Office Scandal hardship fund and help pay for Nick’s food and fare. Nick has paid out of his own pocket for years to get this story told.
The Pig, 37, White Rock, Wednesday, May 10 at 19.00 (doors 18.00).
Tickets for £6.50 and £4 concessions can be obtained at: bathpublishing.com/products/meet-the-author-the-great-post-office-scandal-hastings
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