В Оксфордшире прощались с почтальоном, который 27 лет служил в деревне и был любим жителями

A much-loved postmaster who served for 27 years in an Oxfordshire village Post Office has been remembered following his death, aged 74. Dr Asadollah Fatemian, known to most simply as "Ebby", died on July 25 after a battle with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. He passed away just two days before what would have been his 48th wedding anniversary with his wife, Marzieh, although the couple had been together for almost 50 years. Dr Fatemian took over Kennington Post Office in August 1999 and spent nearly 27 years helping residents, becoming a familiar and trusted face in the village. During his time running the business, former Prime Minister David Cameron even visited the branch. Marzieh said her husband was "so loved" because of his kindness and generosity. "He was a gentle soul," she said. "He just loved helping people and was so easy-going, friendly and smiling to everyone. "He was a family man. He loved to have everyone around him and he worked very hard all his life." Born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1951, Dr Fatemian moved to the UK in 1975 to study. He earned a degree in environmental sciences from the University of Sussex before completing a doctorate in soil science at the University of Reading. His son, Arash Fatemian, told mourners at a memorial service, held on August 23, that his father was the first person in his family to attend university and built a successful life through determination and hard work. "He was a scientist in the truest sense: curious, precise and never content to simply accept the way things had always been done," he said. Read more Dr Fatemian worked as a senior scientist for Thames Water before later taking over the post office, which he transformed alongside his sister-in-law, Ensieh Shadman-Valavi. Arash said his father's strongest qualities were his work ethic, adventurous spirit and dedication to family. "The bigger the gathering, the happier he was," he said. "A full table, a full house, everyone together. That was his idea of a good life." Marzieh described her husband as not only her partner, but her best friend. During the funeral service, attended by loved ones in person and from all around the world, she said: "After nearly 50 years of a marriage, which started with intense love and developed into a deep friendship, I feel that I have lost not only my husband but my best friend, my support, my rock, simply my other half." Among his proudest moments was the anticipation of welcoming his first granddaughter, Delsa, who was born just 24 hours after his death. "He was so excited about the arrival of our first granddaughter," Marzieh said. She added: "I am grateful that I had him by my side for nearly 50 years." Dr Fatemian is survived by Marzieh, their three sons Arash, Kaveh and Koroosh, and his grandchildren. He was buried at Hempton Road Cemetery in Deddington, where the family thanked Deddington Parish Council and AlAnsaar Funeral Services for their support. Marzieh also thanked the "excellent care" that her husband received from all the medical professionals in NHS. For now, Kennington Post Office will remain in the family, with Marzieh preparing to take over while her sister, Ensieh, continues to manage the branch.