Gentleman postie who always delivered for others

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http://islingtontribune.com/article/gen ... for-others

Tributes to ‘passionate and loyal’ 56-year-old who worked through the pandemic

05 February, 2021 — By Tom Foot

THE death of a long-serving postman has led to new calls not to take the frontline service for granted, with colleagues left devastated by his passing.

Gerry Lecointe, who was 56, was found at his home in Archway and workmates fear Covid may have at least been a contributory factor.

Pat Carey, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) rep at the Kentish Town depot and a close friend of Mr Lecointe, said: “Gerry was a passionate and loyal CWU member – any political and anti-racist campaigns, he was at the front of them.

“He was always collecting around the office. Always gathering money for people. He was a lovely man and a gentlemen. Myself and everyone here are devastated.”

A big Arsenal fan, Mr Lecointe, whose family were originally from Jamaica, had been good friends with Emeka Nyack Ihenacho, a bus driver whose route passed through Islington and who died from Covid last April.

His death then led to questions over how well – or poorly – public sector workers were being protected during the pandemic.

Mr Ihenacho, who they knew as “Meka”, had worked as a postman in the same depot for many years with Mr Lecointe before switching careers.

Mr Carey said: “This has hit us really hard because we have also lost Meka. They were both one of a kind, and really were two gentlemen.

“We don’t know if Gerry died of Covid, but we’ve all been working through the pandemic. People moan about not getting their post, but we are out every day on our feet, and there has been so much sickness among postal workers.”

Mr Lecointe was a long-time member of the Socialist Workers Party at the Upper Holloway and Archway branch.

Mr Lecointe did not have children but had been looking after his elderly mother.

Neighbours on his round are discussing on the Kentish Town Lives Facebook group whether to organise a plaque on a bench somewhere on Mr Lecointe’s route.