Violette Valentine's Tales from the Past: James Dawe, postman for over 20 years

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Evercreech historian Violette Valentine is taking a look at the postal service of Evercreech and its characters. Here is the third installment, looking at long-serving postman James Dawe...

JAMES Dawe joined the team of postmen working out of Evercreech on February 18, 1863, and was aged 33 at the time. His route to Alhampton was nearly four miles.

James' options for his delivery route probably changed depending on what letters he had in his leather bag that he slung over his shoulder each day.

His knowledge of the local community was called upon when he was witness at an inquest held at the Brewers Arms in Evercreech.

William Stride, a labourer, had fallen from the horse and cart in which he was travelleing and suffered a fatal fracture of his spine. James said he had seen Mr Stride with Mark Chinnock as he passed Evercreech Junction and had wished them both "good evening".

Various other witnesses were called who stated Mr Stride had drunk no more than three pints of beer, but when the cart he was riding in with Mr Chinnock had been jolted by the horse drawing it, Mr Stride had fallen out.

Enough evidence was given to convince Dr Craddock and Mr Read, foreman of the jury that Mr Stride died from a fracture of the spine caused by falling out of the cart in a state of intoxication.

It was during James' period of service that the Postmaster General extended the scheme of recognising long service among staff with increased salary, pensions and good conduct chevrons which would be worn on the uniform.

Each stripe recognised five years of good conduct and came with an additional shilling wage a week and an increased pension.

By the time the scheme was implemented in Somerset in 1883, James had served twenty and a half years, and attained his three stripes and a three shilling a week increase in wages.