Residents mark first class service as postie retires

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A POPULAR postman who never missed a day's work has been described as irreplaceable by residents he delivered to.
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Gerry Breau retired on Thursday but residents in Milton of Leys would not let him go without a fuss - organising a collection and putting up good luck banners and balloons.

Mr Breau, who turns 65 this week, has been a postman in the community - which he has seen grow from 217 homes to more than 620 - for seven and a half years.

Before that he ran a trout fishery and worked as a bar manager, including in the Corriegarth Hotel, Inverness, which was owned by his older brother Raymond at the time.

He described being a postie as "absolutely superb."

"It keeps you fit, but I have also been very fortunate. On this round, I have never had a bad word with anyone.

"I have made a lot of friends. It is like being in the bar trade, you meet people.

"The big difference is the people I am speaking to are sober."

And he explained the bad weather had only stopped the mail arriving in Milton of Leys once and it was his day off.

Residents in Redwood Crescent marked the postie's retirement with a collection and 64-year-old Ian McLean and his wife June put up balloons and banners outside their house.

"He has been the best postman, he is irreplaceable really," Mr McLean commented. "He knows everyone by their first name, he has never missed a day. He has just been fantastic."

Anna and Geoff Thomson, also of Redwood Crescent, described his service as excellent, while Bob Cowan, who moved to the street a year ago described him as brilliant.

Milton of Leys residents gather to say goodbye to Gerry Breau. Katy Sutherland

"Nothing is too much trouble," he said.

Gavin Norton, who is chairman of Milton of Leys Residents Association, also paid tribute, describing Mr Breau as always cheerful.

"He has been an absolute credit to the area and he is going to be sorely missed," he said. "I think everyone appreciates he goes the extra mile in delivering the post and always provides a service over what you would expect. He is going to be a big loss, he is a great guy."

And it is not just the residents of Milton of Leys who will miss him - he has also made a few canine friends too.

He is well-known for giving dogs on the estate treats. "It is always better to have a friendly dog than an aggressive one," he said. "There are always quite a lot of dogs waiting for biscuits in the morning at the letter box."

Mr Breau, of Columba Road, admitted he would miss the residents and had mixed feelings about retiring.

"I have been overwhelmed by the kindness that has been shown to me over the years," he said. "They couldn't do enough for you."

He added he was sad to be retiring but would be kept busy.

"My wife Shena has a big list made out for me," he said. The father-of-three and grandfather is also a keen gardener and fisherman.

[Lounge Lizard]

"He is well-known for giving dogs on the estate treats. "It is always better to have a friendly dog than an aggressive one," he said. "There are always quite a lot of dogs waiting for biscuits in the morning at the letter box.""
- and when Gerry's replacement does NOT give the dogs their treats ?