THE glamour of royalty can feel quite far away as the afternoon school run descends on the Risinghurst post office.

But the unofficial queen of the estate is in her element, greeting the frazzled parents and sugar-craving youngsters in the same way she has done for much of her 27 years behind the counter.

Last week the real Queen decided to recognise Hemlata Gandhi, known universally as Hema, with an MBE for her services to the community in the birthday honours list.

This fact is proudly proclaimed from hand-made notices stuck up on the soft drinks fridge and crisp aisle of the small shop-cum-post office in Downside Road.

News has spread fast across the estate and the loyal band of customers give Hema a little knowing congratulatory nod as they come in for their milk or stamps.

But far from letting the recognition go to her head, Mrs Gandhi said it shows that people do take notice of the little things in life.

Since taking on the running of the post office with husband Mahesh in 1991, she has made it her mission to always have time for her customers, celebrating and commiserating with them as they go through life’s ups and downs.

It is this, and trying to keep up with the latest trends and changes, that has meant this post office has been able to keep going so long while all the others around have disappeared, according to the 56-year-old.

She said: “It is a completely different business to the one we started out in.

“Most of our time used to be taken up with benefits and pensions payments which are completely gone now.

“Hardly any young people are sending letters anymore and we used to do a lot of air-mail which has, of course, been replaced by email and texts.

She added: “It used to be all manual and you would have to know the price of everything whereas today it is computerised which makes things a lot easier.

“You have to change with the times and now we post a lot of packages and the local shop element has become more and more important.

“We were one of the first to start selling lottery tickets and we installed an ATM about three years ago which has proven really successful.

“We’re a drop off point for Amazon and people come in to pick up their parcels and will often stop and chat and buy things from the shop.

“I think we’ve been at the centre of this community for so long and now we have people who come from as far away as Summertown and Forest Hill to visit us.”

The Gandhis moved to Oxford to take on the running of the post office after Hema had worked in banking and her husband worked for a burger manufacturing company.

For Hema it was a return to her roots having helped out with shifts at her father’s post office in east London as a teenager.

The Risinghurst branch dates back to the 1940s, when the estate was first built, and the Gandhis are the third, and now longest serving, owners.

After the second of their children, Jasmine now aged 22 and studying medicine in Leicester, was born the family moved from a small flat above the shop to a bigger house around the corner.

Staying so close has allowed them to to open up the shop come snow or heavy rain - and despite what Oxford’s traffic might be doing – providing a lifeline to many a local resident over the years.

The ever-talkative Mahesh, or Mr G as he is often known, moved to the UK from India and the family were the only Asians living in Risinghurst when they first moved to the area.

They got involved in a Hindu mandal group which, at the time, only consisted of about 12 families who would regularly meet up and celebrate festivals together.

Over the years the couple became a driving force behind the group which now counts about 300 families among its members.

Reflecting today, Mrs Gandhi said: “When we first came we didn’t know anybody so it was a way to get to know other people.

“We thought it could do more and have tried to help it expand and reach more people over the years.

“Now we meet up regularly to cook and celebrate together.

“It is a really lovely thing to be involved with.”

Their work with the mandal is one of many causes the couple has embraced over the years with regular home-made collection boxes a staple on the counter.

Whenever anyone locally is embarking on a quest for sponsorship, the couple oblige with a tin and a touch of gentle persuasion to get customers to cough up.

They have been known to top up the difference from their own pockets and their yearly poppy appeal has expanded well beyond the traditional week in November to become a near year-round event.

In recent years Mrs Gandhi has turned her attention to helping out after tragedies, particularly the Grenfell fire which killed 72 in London last year/

A permanently happy and positive figure behind the counter, her resolute resolve was tested 15 years ago when the shop was robbed at gunpoint.

Describing the scene, she said: “I was at the front counter and Mahesh had gone to the cash and carry.

“We had one customer in the shop with her baby and a boy who was helping me.

“A young man came in wearing a black balaclava and pointed a gun at me.

“I was thinking is this real but just did what he said and emptied the till.

“He was caught later and sent to prison.

“It was scary but you have to move on.

“We rarely get miserable customers and I think that’s because we refuse to ever be miserable ourselves.

“The bad moments are always outweighed by the dozens of good moments that happen every day.”

Husband Mahesh praised his wife’s ability to move with the times as he congratulated her for being awarded the MBE.

He said: “She has given such great service to the community for so long.

“Everyone knows her and we have had so many nice messages since the news was announced.

“She has built it up from strength to strength while all the others around us have closed down.

“We have survived because we have changed with the times. She gives the customers what they want - that is the key to her success.”

Mrs Gandhi said the royal recognition had come completely out of the blue.

She added: “A few years ago some of the customers said something should be done to recognise all that I do but I didn’t hear any more.

“It was a complete shock and surprise when I heard.

“I think a lot of people assume you have to be a big fish to get this sort of recognition, that it only goes to famous actors or sports stars.

“But I think this shows you can make a difference in little ways.

“I am sure there are a lot more people who are worthier than me but I’m so grateful for everyone in the community who put my name forward.”