The Good Old Days

Post by **bigjames** » 17 May 2007, 22:03

The thing that I miss the most is the feeling of belonging to something worthwhile, and the respect that came with it. My Dad was a Postman for nigh on 30 years in the 70's/80's/90's and a bit of the 2000's and for a large part of that time being a Postman or anything to do with the Post Office meant that you were someone, a pillar of the community, someone to be respected, to be relied on. I joined the Counters in the mid 80's and even then to be a Postal officer on the counter was a sought after responsible job. Nowadays anyone who works for any part of Royal Mail Group is a target for abuse and criticism. I am a Branch Manager now, in one of the Smiths 70, and all I get from the public is complaints about the queue, or their lost letters, or their passport photos being refused, in fact anything they want to moan about. I was involved in an office converting to franchise nearly 2 years ago and I still get harangued in the streets where I live because of the queues in the franchise! Even my wife gets it in the ear from people who know what I do! If anyone asks me what I do for a living I tell them I work for the Govt. so they think I am a secret agent, anything other than a Royal Mail employee.
But do we help ourselves? I think not. My Dad had 2 sets of uniform, one for summer and one for winter. He never left the house without a tie on, and never wore trainers until he was issued official Hi-tec ones. Contrast that with the operatives who collect from my counter, shorts - not official issue, shirt - whatever they fancy, sometimes Royal Mail, but not always, Hat- Chelsea baseball cap, Socks- sometimes, Footwear - usually white trainers. If they turned up for work like that in the 70's/80's they would have been sent home to change, and I don't want to hear any nonsense about the job being hard physical work, so they have to be comfortable, for the 2 simple reasons that the job hasn't changed that much in 30 years that standards can slip that much, letters are still letters and an 11kg bag of mail weighed the same then as it does now, and you can still look reasonably smart in Post Office issue uniform and o the job in relative comfort.
All establishments have to move on, but some of the old stuff was worth having, and respect from the public has been eroded by a lot of what we do ourselves.

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 18 May 2007, 10:28

This is what i miss the most,the good old delivery sack,a proper bag for doing your delivery with,and in them days you got your walk in to one of them bags,the only trolley about was a little 2 pannier and they were in short supply.Why dont we use them any more something to do with fleas if i remember ,so they got rid of them and introduced the pouch,which i do not like at all, they are to uncomfortable and give me neck ache.I remember when you got a new sack,the first thing you had to do was soften her up,in the bath lots of comfort and a good soaking,once treated they were a postmens no1 accessory a must tool for the job,and imo sorely missed.

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 18 May 2007, 10:34

The old style ones ,without your name on,just your badge number,and the district you worked in.I still use mine now as i dont like the gold ones with your name on,yes you cant beat them the good old CLASSIC security badge.

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 18 May 2007, 10:41

The single bit of uniform i miss most my thermal coat,how i wish i still had one,i hate them waterproof/thermal we use now,not practicable at all for the job,BRING BACK THE OLD THERMAL NOW I SAY.

ROCKY · Post by **ROCKY** » 18 May 2007, 16:12

shoes i could walk in without winding up in the physio que,the good old fashioned original doc martin,and people actually wanting the stuff i brought them,they looked forward to getting it and opening it
electric trucks in town on a friday night,they where that slow that the ladies could walk faster than we could drive,it was great for the scenery
no speed traps,less traffic,seat belts were something for other people
i could go on for ever but as for the dress code even the army has softened as society has gone throgh some big changers in that area over recent years

Retired Old Postman · Post by **Retired Old Postman** » 19 May 2007, 11:55

The good old badges. I was most put out when I had to have my name on the new badge and had to give up my blue one.
I was proud when I got my blue badge. But what a game choosing a name for your badge. And how often did anyone wear their badge.

ROP

Post by **POSTMAN** » 20 May 2007, 00:16

I have to admit,some of the stuff i see othe posties wear make me cringe,although i do admit to white trainers but thats only because i use my old trainers for work as i can't wear the shoes.
But ftr i have a blue pair now specially bought and my new whities will not be worn on duty

And pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease can we have the old thermal coats back

truthteller · Post by **truthteller** » 21 May 2007, 10:02

The best uniform we ever had was the old grey summer one with the black collars. Smart and cool.

hoofer · Post by **hoofer** » 24 May 2007, 15:08

Im a sad old git as I remember the good old days and Im still working here thats prob why Im a Rep and I want every man and his dog to vote YES I don't want to lose any more than we already have its getting bloody hard to even have a laugh and a sense of humour is'nt it!! Anyway can anyone beat this? I've done 36 years so far (& still too many more to go) my Dad done 51 years then 8 years part time a total of 95 years between us. Can anyone beat that or am I just one sad Mother F****R ? (Be back in a mo just need to empty my inncontinance bag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahh thats better killed two birds with one stone and just gave birth to another line manager

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 24 May 2007, 18:03

NEARLY THE TON UP CLUB BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR OLD MAN...

But i do hope you flushed twice on the kharzi chain as them slimey screws do have a charmed life!!! remember 2 pulls and a swoooooooshhhhhh!! be safe be carefull and always always make sure the turd has left on its round!!!

OUT

95 YEARS IM IMPRESSED!!

hoofer · Post by **hoofer** » 25 May 2007, 14:08

:Confused :Confused Speak up Tommo my hearings going so I can hardly read the screen!!

Oh sod it I've still got the chain in me hand!!!

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 05 Jun 2007, 15:47

Yes we used to get them in the good old days before Royal Mail started to count the pennies

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 05 Jun 2007, 16:09

Ere mate your like this one, In my old DO. A dickhead Screw got pinched avin it away wiv all the Cleaning tokens... He had a dry cleaners sorted out and was doing it for years.. They gave him the elbow but no more... made a few quid but wot a thing to nick???

And he was the scruffyist twat slime ive ever seen !!!

Made us larf when he was walked out of the building one day wiv the IB and 120 posties singing. "WERE GONNA HANG OUT THE WASHING ON THE SIEGFRIE LINE." WELL THE ONES THAT KNEW IT ANYWAY!!! LOL!!!

Wot a sad git...

OUT

DONT LET THE DOOR STEP CHALLENGE GET YA KNICKED!!!

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 05 Jun 2007, 17:50

Would have loved to have been there and seen that Tommo mate ,Its a shame we didnt have mobile phones in them days they would have been right handy to capture moments like that

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 05 Jun 2007, 18:04

Cor yeh if i had my Cam phn i would of put it on the plasma propaganda tv's and stuck it on loop!!!

ROYALMAILCHAT

The Good Old Days

The Good Old Days

THE DELIVERY SACK

The Security Badge

The Blue Thermal Coat

The Security Badge

Uniform

GET N THERE HOOFER!!

Cleaning tokens

Johnnyp..

You tube would of had a field day mate!!!