Villagers deliver present to heroic former postman

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THE people of Wargrave have collected hundreds of pounds for their former postman.

Michael Rich, 55, walked the streets of Wargrave for 10 years before giving up his round in the summer after the Post Office introduced new working practices.

He made many friends and on two occasions challenged burglars who threatened the otherwise calm of the village.

After one incident, he was commended by a judge and awarded £200.

The collection for him was organised by Tony Barker, of Church Street, and Peter Halman, of Wargrave Hill.


They presented envelopes containing money and cheques to Mr Rich at his home in Markby Way, Lower Earley, together with a framed picture of the occasaion last summer when he delivered a birthday greetings card from the Queen to 100-year-old Kathleen Stokes, of Ferry Lane, Wargrave.

Mr Barker said: “Getting your post from Michael was just like it was being delivered by a friend. He always had time for people and he cared about delivering your letters safely.”

Mr Rich, who is now a postman in Hurst, said his decade at Wargrave was “the best time of my working life”. He became a postman just over 11 years ago after a career as an optical technician.

Mr Rich, who is married to Kate, 44, and has two daughters Sophie, 23, and Jenny, 22, said: “We had moved to Lower Earley from Tunbridge Wells and having been made redundant three times, I was looking for some job security. I joined the Post Office and Wargrave was my first regular round.”

He had never worked outside before and loved the “nice surroundings, the wildlife — there are lots of red kites around Wargrave — and, of course, the people”.

He added: “It was a pleasure to be of service to them.” Mr Rich, a former regimental policeman in the Territorial Army, recalled one occasion when he tackled a burglar.

He said: “I saw a guy running out of the post office and gave chase on my bike. I managed to run the bike into him in Church Street outside Tony’s home. I held him down while Tony called the police.”

On the other such occasion, he confronted a man suspected of burglary trying to make a getaway in his car. His post office bike was wrecked as the man drove off. Mr Rich said that once he got to know customers, they were very understaning about the colitis he suffers from.

“It requires easy access to a toilet and the people on my round were always sympathetic and helpful,” he said.

“I do miss the people of Wargrave and I am very touched by their kind gifts.”

He said he had always been given generous tips at Christmas and had saved these up to finance his two hobbies, walking and photography.