Doggedly determined to deliver!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/Dogged ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CLAYHIDON'S answer to Postman Pat has retired after 17 years chugging around the parish in her little red van with a box of dog biscuits.

Training puppies to sit when she arrived with the mail was Marian Tuckey's survival strategy after she was savaged by a spaniel.

Apart from the odd nip from a puppy and the occasional scrape trying to avoid other drivers in the narrow lanes, Marion's long stint as the parish post lady has been quiet.

In fact, sometimes a little too quiet.

"Some days I could go nearly the whole round without seeing another vehicle," she said, "but I always knew that if I needed help and stood and shouted someone would come."

Marian joined Royal Mail 29 years ago as a casual and became a full-timer delivering around Hemyock on a bike. For the past 17 years she has looked after Clayhidon's 250 households plus, more recently, 120 at Hemyock. When snow blocked lanes, she and husband Ken would battle through on foot.

Parish council chairman Richard Kallaway thanked her for all she had done, especially for helping to publicise parish hall events.

"The people of Clayhidon wanted to have a collection for you because you have served so many of them so well," he said, presenting her with cheques for £750 from the parish as a whole and £50 from the council.

[P13]

I wonder what happened when the reserve turned up without the dog biscuits?

[Lounge Lizard]

"Parish council chairman Richard Kallaway thanked her for all she had done, especially for helping to publicise parish hall events." - what, leaflets to every household about parish hall events without Royal Mail getting any Door To Door income ?