A Dundee postman has called time on a ‘record’ 53-year career collecting post in the city.
Alistair Slidders has worked with Royal Mail in Dundee since 1973, when the then 16-year-old saw a job advertisement in the paper.
He successfully applied and was soon out doing the rounds in the city on a Royal Mail moped.
Dundee postman Alistair ‘never fancied an office job’
“I never fancied an office job,” said Alistair.
“I enjoy being out in the fresh air and doing my own thing.”
Alistair, who turns 69 this week, went on to work on the vans, serving rural areas such as Tealing, Birkhill and Muirhead.
Alistair and his colleagues are a tight-knit group. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson
Eventually, he progressed to the distribution side of post delivery, working out of the Dundee West delivery office, where he shares a close bond with his colleagues.
“I will miss the banter,” said Alistair. “It is a good group, we all have a laugh, a game of cards and a game of pool. That will be the thing that I miss.”
Alistair admits the emotion of leaving his working life behind hadn’t hit him on Friday as he made the last collections of his five-decade career.
Alistair made his last collection on Friday. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson
“It might hit me later on, but at the moment I don’t feel any different. It comes to us all, and I think it is the right time for my career to come to an end.
“I am looking forward to putting my feet up.”
Alistair’s colleagues paid tribute to the retiree, whose career is thought to be the longest of anyone in the local area.
Tributes paid to “fantastic” colleague
One said: “Ali has been a fantastic colleague. You’ll not see anybody work that length of time with the Royal Mail again. It is a bit of a record as far as we are concerned.”
While another added: “Ali is very well respected here, he is a fantastic guy and we wish him all the best on his retirement.”
“Fantastic” postman Alistair. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson
Collection customer operations manager at the Dundee West office, Derek McKenzie, added: “I’ve known Ali for more than 25 years, in that time he has been just brilliant.
“He is a people person, there is nothing too difficult and he is always there to help. He is one of those people that when he goes on annual leave, there will be customers picking up the phone to ask if he is okay. He will be really missed.”
“He is unique. At 53 years, no one has come close to that length of career in Dundee and Angus. He has been a wonderful colleague.”
Alistair’s says he has not yet thought about how he will spend his well-earned retirement, although he says he will enjoy going for walks without carrying post on his back.