Amy Postlethwaite used to run the village shop in Beckindale. She took Alison Gibbons on as an assistant in July 1973. Amy had bad knees and had to wear a hearing aid. Sam Pearson said she was a fast mover when she was younger. Amy collapsed in the street in August 1973 and Amy's sister Mrs Rigby rung Alison, who dashed straight to Amy's bedside. Due to her failing health, Amy decided she could no longer run the shop and sold it to Henry Wilks and Alison. Amy then retired to Devon to be nearer her sister.
In September 1978, David Annersley returned to Beckindale after 25 years away and mentioned the village shop, and how a "funny old lady ran it, I wonder if she is still there".