Residents turned out to surprise their much-loved postman on his 50th birthday after he left it too late to book the day off.
Lee Schuller, who has been delivering letters and parcels in Beeford, East Yorkshire, for more than half his life, said he did not want a fuss for his birthday.
But more than 250 residents decorated the village and gathered at the community centre to show their love and sing him happy birthday.
Lee said: "There are not many people that can say they don't actually mind coming to work. I'll never be a millionaire, I'm not rich in the pocket, but I'm rich in life."
He said he had been "gobsmacked" when he saw the village decorated with banners, balloons and bunting.
"It's wonderful, but like I keep telling them, they're always so lovely to me, so I respond," he added.
Villager Nora Dean said she was there because "I love him so much and he's such a good postman".
She described him as a lifeline and said he had helped her and her husband up when they had fallen.
Fellow resident Esther Priestly said Lee once got in her compost bin to tread it down.
"How mad is that?" she said.
"He'll do anything for any of us," Nora added. "He's the very best postman you can have."
Julia Fitzpatrick, who was also at the party, said: "There's a lot of love for this gentleman. He's just amazing.
"He'll suddenly go: 'How are you today?' But he's heartfelt. He means it. He's just a great guy."
Lee's wife, Hilary Schuller, said the support for her husband was "overwhelming".
"It's just so good of them to do this for him. But he loves his job, he loves the village," she said. "It makes us really proud."
His mum, Pauline England, added: "I'm always proud of him, but today it's so emotional, just unbelievable.
"Everybody says such wonderful things about him and I can't describe how I feel."