Nick turns detective to hand over letter with no address

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Nick turns detective to hand over letter with no address A POSTMAN turned detective to deliver a letter from an Australian woman addressed only to “Joan” in a North-East railway town.

The letter was in an envelope addressed to “The Postman who delivers mail to New Shildon, Co Durham, near Locomotion museum and New Masons”.

It contained an explanatory note from Australian tourist Dawn Webb, who wanted to send a thank-you letter to a Shildon resident who helped her when she visited the town.

Ms Webb, who had been staying with her daughter in London, visited Shildon last month to explore her family’s heritage, and talked to a woman she only knew as Joan.

Joan gave her directions to Locomotion: The National Railway Museum and information about the town.

Ms Webb’s letter found its way to postman Nick Raw, who works from the Royal Mail’s sorting office in Bishop Auckland, and has delivered post to the area known as New Shildon for 15 years.

Based on the information supplied in Ms Webb’s note, he guessed the intended recipient was Joan Hunter, who lives in Pears Terrace, near the museum.

Grandmother-of-six Mrs Hunter said that receiving the letter made her day and said: “I told her if she got lost or if she needed anything to come to my house and I would drop her off for the bus.

“She told me that her grandparents were born in Shildon but emigrated to Australia.

I just tried to help her as much as I could.

“I will talk to anyone and I always try to promote Shildon and the museum.”

Mr Raw said: “I suppose the postman is the most obvious person to ask, but if it had been another one, it might not have worked out.

“I have got to know everyone on this round and I am on first-name terms with a lot of people.

“I am just doing my job and doing my best for the customers.”

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “Our staff always go the extra mile to try and deliver our customers’ mail and we are delighted that this letter arrived safely.”

[Darren Bent]

it can only work if there is local knowledge and contact.