Bob Hutcheson who was a postman in Mundesley for 18 years. He is pictured with his son Andrew Hutcheson who's also a postman in the village. Picture: MARK BULLIMORE
Seaside villagers rallied round to collect hundreds of pounds for a popular postman who has retired after 18 years on the job.
Bob Hutcheson, 65, from Sandy Lane in West Runton, has delivered to 550 homes a day in the Mundesley beach area.
Last Friday he completed his last round which ended with a surprise presentation of £765 collected by villagers for the father and grandfather.
Describing the job, Mr Hutcheson said: “You get the fresh air and you meet these lovely people. You get a sense of satisfaction. The collection is very generous.”
He started the job on a part-time basis after moving from London, where he worked for the Co-op before being made redundant.
“I thought at the time, if I am going to out of work I might as well be out of work in Norfolk near the beach, which is lovely,” Mr Hutcheson added.
Up until a year ago he did his deliveries on a bike before moving to a van and worked alongside two other Royal Mail postman - one of whom is his son Andrew.
Father and son have worked alongside each other for the past 15 years.
The 65-year-old, who worked 40 hours a week over five days, said the increase in houses in Mundesley was the major change in the job and he would not miss the cold winters.
But he added: “You try to keep an eye on people if they are on there own. I have got to know people through the years. People like to come out and chat with you especially if it is a nice day.”
Mr Hutcheson’s typical day started at 6am with him picking up post from North Walsham Post Office before sorting it between his two colleagues.
He would then deliver parcels around Mundesley before finishing around 2pm.
A new full-time postman will replace Mr Hutcheson, who wants to keep visiting Mundesley.
His postman son, 42, from Sandy Lane in West Runton, said: “Eighteen years is a long time to do the job nowadays.”
During the presentation, John Whitby, chairman of the village-run Mundesley Visitor Centre, said: “We all know Bob went the extra mile on more than one occasion.”
Another villager, Ken Bragger, 76, said: “He has been a special man. He was always helpful, prompt and will be missed.”