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The recently published photograph of Little Eaton Post Office (below) reminded Margaret Lamb of the time she became a local heroine after foiling a robbery there - as her daughter, Christine Gration, of Kilburn, recounts.

This photograph of Little Eaton Post Office was taken on November 5, 1959, the day after an armed robbery took place there.

The two people in the photograph were wondering why the post office was closed. In fact, it was because the auditors were in attendance and the post office could not be opened until they had made sure everything was in order.

At that time, my mum, Margaret Lamb, was working there for the sub-postmaster, Mr Nicholls.

On November 4, she was behind the counter getting ready to leave, just before closing time, when two youths with scarves around their faces went up to the counter, saying they had a gun, and demanded money.

When they realised no money was forthcoming, they grabbed mum's purse from her handbag and ran. These individuals were never caught. There was an article in the Evening Telegraph at the time.

Mum was subsequently sent a personal letter of thanks for the courage she showed "in safeguarding the official cash in the face of an armed threat" by the GPO's Midland Region director, Mr W T Gemmell.

Following this incident, my mum, dad Frank (now deceased), sister Pat and myself moved into the post office accommodation, which is on the side of the building.

We lived there until 1965 when Mr Nicholls resigned his post as sub-postmaster. This was taken over by Mr Cohn Talbot and then some years later by Mr Leslie Killer.

The post office closed in March 1998 - 10 years ago.

On leaving Little Eaton Post Office, mum worked at Cambridge Street Post Office, Derby.

In 1986, yet again she was involved in an armed robbery. This time a man handed a note to the sub-postmistress saying he had a gun and demanded money.

She passed the note to mum who instinctively hit the alarm, causing the raider to flee. This individual was caught and received a prison sentence.

Mum left Cambridge Street in the late 1980s to work at the main post office in Victoria Street, Derby, from where she finally retired in 1997, at the age of 71, when the post office moved to its current premises.

Mrs Lamb, 81, who now lives in Oakwood, told Bygones: "Both occasions were very frightening but I just acted on impulse. On the second occasion, we really thought the robber had a gun, although it turned out to be a piece of wood wrapped in something black.

"When the other lady passed me the note, I just automatically slapped my foot on the alarm and he ran.

"It all seems a long time ago now."

• The 'Stories Behind The Pictures'

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