snail mail arrives 40 years late

[Stormproof]

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Articl ... 4?UserKey=
mystery surrounds letters out of Africa
Couple stunned as snail mail arrives 40 years late
By Stephen Christie

Published: 08/11/2008


LAST POST: Ian McCook with the slow-moving letters. Kami Thomson

Three letters, two of which were sent from South Africa, have landed on the doormat of a house in Aberdeen – 40 years after they were posted.

The mail, addressed to a couple who have not lived at the property for more than 20 years, was received by a baffled Ian McCook who initially thought the postman had made a mistake.

When Mr McCook, who stays in North Anderson Drive with his wife Nancy, inspected them closely he was astonished to see the 1960s and 1970 postmarks.

Two of the letters had been mailed in the former British breakaway colony of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

One was posted on December 6, 1965, and carries a commemorative stamp marking Rhodesia’s independence on November 11 that year.

The other is postmarked September 3, 1970, and both are addressed to a Mr and Mrs J Clark. One of the South African letters contains a ripped letter.

The third letter, addressed to Mrs Clark, was posted in Aberdeen on February 5, 1968. The envelope was open and empty with four stamps attached.

Mr McCook, 58, a dairy worker, said: “Two of the letters came in a plastic Royal Mail bag, the kind they use if letters are damaged. The other, the one from Aberdeen, just arrived as it was.”

Mr McCook believes the Clarks moved out around 20 years ago and a neighbour thinks the couple moved to Inverurie. It is understood they may have passed away.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “It is impossible to determine exactly what has happened to these items.

“It is very unlikely, however, that they have been in the Royal Mail system for that length of time.

“The most likely explanation is that these items have been re-entered into our system and then delivered.”

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the Clarks or their family is asked to call Mr McCook on 01224 663934. He is also keen to hear from any stamp enthusiasts.

[Stormproof]

“It is very unlikely, however, that they have been in the Royal Mail system for that length of time.

I think this is going to become a common problem as SPDO's are shut down and cleared out.

[NWpostie]

The Rhodesian stamps would be collectors items now.

[dvbuk55]

The Rhodesian stamps would be collectors items now.

I thought the same thing myself - I was in the Army in Germany at the time Ian Smith declared unilateral independence. We had Rhodesian nationals serving in the Army then as they were classed as British. There was a chance that rather than let Smith get away with the declaration Britain would invade to restore British Rule, which would obviously cause a conflict of interest with the guys from Rhodesia.

[Barry Trotter]

Bit fortunate that Mr McCook just happens to be a stamp collector and managed to get a little bit of free advertising,What to you mean cynical? I am not.

[baldrick]

The Rhodesian stamps would be collectors items now.

I've got some - I was a stamp collector back then
Doubt that they're worth much though.

[dvbuk55]

The Rhodesian stamps would be collectors items now.

I've got some - I was a stamp collector back then
Doubt that they're worth much though.

Yes yes - and then you went train spotting - tell me did you ever see the flying scotsman?

[baldrick]

The Rhodesian stamps would be collectors items now.

I've got some - I was a stamp collector back then
Doubt that they're worth much though.

Yes yes - and then you went train spotting - tell me did you ever see the flying scotsman?

Well I was at school then.
But I was never quite sad enough to be a trainspotter.

[dvbuk55]

The Rhodesian stamps would be collectors items now.

I've got some - I was a stamp collector back then
Doubt that they're worth much though.

Yes yes - and then you went train spotting - tell me did you ever see the flying scotsman?

Well I was at school then.
But I was never quite sad enough to be a trainspotter.

Well I have to admit to being a one time trainspotter, without any sense of , though in my defence they were the old steam trains with historic names
and I did see the Flying Scotsman, also I lived not a hundred yards from a railway line and I was very young - only 32

[baldrick]

The old steam trains did have something impressive about them.
I was at my local underground station a few months ago(it is above ground) and a steam locomotive pulling
a few carriages went hurtling through on the adjacent railway line - could have been the Flying Scotsman, but I wouldn't know. It must have been going into Marylebone Station. Probably some sort of commemoration. But it was certainly a sight to see, though I suppose it would be considered too polluting these days.

[NWpostie]

we gone from slagging off slow lazy Snails delivering mail, to stamps then to spotting Steam Trains

[dvbuk55]

we gone from slagging off slow lazy Snails delivering mail, to stamps then to spotting Steam Trains

It's the donkey punch next

[TrueBlueTerrier]

we gone from slagging off slow lazy Snails delivering mail, to stamps then to spotting Steam Trains

It's the donkey punch next

Deleted by request

[dvbuk55]

we gone from slagging off slow lazy Snails delivering mail, to stamps then to spotting Steam Trains

It's the donkey punch next

[img]Image deleted by request

I have seen it and although it was quite gory in parts I thought it was a pretty funny expression

[baldrick]

we gone from slagging off slow lazy Snails delivering mail, to stamps then to spotting Steam Trains

Well when you get old your mind wanders a bit.