Neighbours raise a toast in memory of 'beloved' postman who died of a cardiac arrest

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http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/resources/images/7586729/Neighbours gathered at a street corner on Saturday morning to raise a toast to their “beloved postman” and unveil a bench in his memory three years after he died of a cardiac arrest

Roger Garrett of Beacontree Avenue, Walthamstow died after presenting with chest pains at Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone on July 20 2015.

An investigation into his death found the 64-year-old was made to wait three hours without a proper assessment and collapsed suddenly as his partner Bill Caster sat in a waiting room nearby.


Mr Caster was on hand to cut the bench’s ribbon as close friends and neighbours raised their champagne glasses to Mr Garrett on what would have been his 67th birthday.

Mr Caster, 67, who first met Mr Garrett aged 11 when the pair were in school, said: “It was quite traumatic when he died and it’s still hard to think about so it’s nice to have something to remember him by.

“It’s important because he did so much for so many people in the area. They wanted to remember him. I felt good and it was not a sad day.

“It’s nice to see how much they thought of him.”

The wooden bench inscribed with the words ‘In loving memory of our friend and postman Roger Garrett (1951-2015)’ is situated on the corner of Beacontree Avenue and Forest Road and is facing the woods.


Gaye Harmer who counted Mr Garrett as a “very good friend” said the view from the bench is the same the postman had from his bedroom window.

The 60-year-old retired civil servant who used to leave her pets in Mr Garrett’s care when she went on holidays said she will always remember him “with great fondness and deep regret that he is gone.”

She admits his death came as a “huge shock” because Mr Garrett seemed to be fit and healthy and says the thing she loved most about him was his smile.

“He was quite an extraordinary man,” she said. “He was always smiling and loved by everyone.

“He didn’t just deliver our post. He would take neighbours to their hospital appointments, cook Christmas dinner for elderly and vulnerable people and bring people newspapers.


“We all remember him in our hearts but it’s nice to have something concrete to remember him by. Others will come and go but Roger will be with us forever.

“People got quite emotional at the unveiling but it was also upbeat because Roger loved a party and we drank a toast in his memory. It was Roger’s last party.”

Ms Harmer credits the postman with “making the neighbours a community” and said he was always looking for ways to introduce people to one another.


MP for Chingford and Woodford Green and councillor for Hale End and Higham’s Park Sheree Rackham were on hand to pass around champagne and cake.

A report in to Mr Garrett’s death found there were “several missed opportunities” to bring him to the correct area of the hospital for treatment.

As a result of the findings Whipps changed its procedures and staff now stream all patients over 40 complaining of chest pains to a ‘major’ area.