We don't want to lose our Whistling Postie

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/news/ ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TWO hundred people signed a petition to keep Ilfracombe's "Whistling Postman" on his town centre round.

The petition was presented to the Ilfracombe sorting office, in support of cheery postie Richard Bradley.

The campaign was launched by concerned residents in Victoria Road who missed Richard's familiar whistle and cheery wave.

They were horrified to learn he was heading for an office-based role — where they felt his jolly demeanour would go unappreciated.

Mandy Ellis and Kim Fuller, who live in Victoria Road, said: "We heard he was going to be working in the offices, and it wasn't a popular decision with residents and shop owners.

"Everyone in the town knows Richard as 'The Whistling Postman'.

"That was how most people described him to us. He is always cheerful and helpful, no matter what the weather."

The pair set up the petition and collected the 200 signatures from residents in the street and many of the shopkeepers along the High Street.

They said: "He is always being approached by residents and shoppers, who look forward to seeing him on his rounds. We know that they miss his whistling, as they all know him for that.

"We are sure that for some people on his old rounds, his was the only face they might see all day. We thought it was a shame that these people were missing that tiny bit of comfort and that happy feeling when the 'Whistling Postman' arrived at their door.

The good news for the campaigners is that Richard is now back covering some of his old route.

Sorting office deputy manager Claire Spearman said: "I have just seen Richard in the High Street. He is very popular and a very cheerful person who seems to know everyone.

"We haven't picked on Richard specifically, and he is still doing some of the round, delivering parcels and special deliveries, but we are undergoing some changes at the moment, including a change in the hours in the office.

"So we have split the town centre round, to spread the workload of our full time employees."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Lapsing duties - not popular with the receivers of post obviously.