First class postie is honoured with a special delivery

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A RED letter day has been marked for a first class former postie.

Ken Gabriel, 78, has been honoured with a plaque to commemorate his work in organising reunions and Christmas lunches for former Swansea Post Office workers.

Ken, who started as a telegram boy in 1947 and retired as a postman when he was 59, in 1991, was taken by surprise by his former colleagues at the 21st anniversary lunch held at the Railwaymen's Club, in Wind Street, Swansea.

Tom Gibbins, who retired as a postman in 1993, made the presentation to Ken.


"It all started back in 1989 when the first telegram messengers' reunion took place," said the 74-year-old, from Waunarlwydd.

"We then held our first Christmas dinner, and it was Ken who organised them and got it started. Initially we had around 15 people at the events, but now we can get 90 to 120.

"We are all retired colleagues. We welcome everybody who used to work in Swansea for the Post Office, from those at the sorting office to postmasters and cleaners."

Mr Gibbins, who has also helped Ken organise the events through the years, said the surprise was kept secret.

"Only three of us knew, and we managed to keep it from him," he said.

"The funny thing was he said to me the night before that he didn't want anything special done for him. So I did tell him a lie as I said 'I didn't intend to'.

"We just wanted to thank him for his commitment over the years. I thought he was going to cry when he was given the plaque.

"We always have a great time. It is a time for reminiscing — a typical retirement do," said Mr Gibbins. We send out 220 letters out every year and we usually get 50 per cent back, which is brilliant.

"We used to hold the dinners at the Kingsway Club, but when that closed we were fortunate to be invited to go to the Railwaymen's Club, in Wind Street."

Mr Gabriel, of St Helen's Avenue, Swansea, said: "I definitely was shocked. I usually don't get lost for words, but I was.

"It was a tremendous night.

"The first dinner we had was for the former telegram boys, and then we opened it to all the staff around ten years ago. I have enjoyed every minute of it over the years."