Canterbury postmen short-listed for award

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TWO posties who made a first class delivery by organising a BMX race for 16 colleagues have been short-listed for a top fundraising award.

Tony Knott, 35, and Justin Esson, 38, both from the Canterbury Mail Centre, are up for a gong in the Royal Mail's 1st Class People Awards.

They were put forward by staff after organising the race day in memory of a friend's wife who died of cancer – raising £680 in the process.

Father-of-three Tony, who commentates at BMX race meets around Kent, said: "She died last year after a long battle with cancer so we decided to do something to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

"We went round the mail centre and got 30 staff to sign up for the day at Hersden BMX track.

"Only 16 actually turned up but it was a great, but extremely chaotic, day.

"You could tell some of the postmen hadn't been on a BMX since they were kids.

"In the final, three of them took each other out in the first corner, leaving a bloke called Alan Hayward to go on and win.

"We're already planning another race day this summer."

Tony and Justin, who have worked for Royal Mail for more than 18 years, found out they had been short-listed three weeks ago.

Tony said: "It was certainly a bolt out of the blue but something we're both proud of.

"It was really fun and raised a lot of money for a very worthy cause."

The duo's manager Daniel Mole said: "It is fantastic that Tony and Justin have been short listed for this award.

"Fundraising is really a big thing for Royal Mail staff in Kent as they really want to help others."

Tony and Justin are now entered into the South East Regional Finals, with winners given the chance to battle it out for the title of Postman of the Year and a £3,000 holiday.

Tony said: "I think we've more chance of winning the Grand National on one leg."