Bourton villagers campaign to keep postman

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A CHERISHED postie was stunned when his Cotswold customers began a campaign to keep him in their village.

Lawrence Smith, 40, has been the postman in Bourton-on-the-Water for over four years but last week Royal Mail told him he would be relocated to Moreton-in-Marsh to fill a vacancy.

"We cannot afford to lose him and businesses depend on his early deliveries."
Pam Wigley

Now Park Farm residents Pam and David Wigley have started a petition to keep him.

Pam told the Standard: "He is always early and we call him Lightening or Flash. We cannot afford to lose him and businesses depend on his early deliveries.

"Park Farm is full of elderly people who like to see a friendly face, somebody who has got a minute to have a chat."

She said the dedicated postie even gives all his Christmas tips to the Cotswold School in Bourton.

Lawrence, who grew up in the village and has been a postman for 18 years, was astonished by the resident's reaction.

Their petition has gathered more than 200 signatures so far.

"All the customers know me by name and if someone is at work I will drop their post off for them. I always do a bit extra," he said.

"I don't want to go and I feel I have not been asked, I have been told."

A Royal Mail spokesman said the position at Moreton was to fill a temporary vacancy and Lawrence had previous experience of working in the town.

He said: "It has been made clear that this is a temporary arrangement and the individual will not be financially penalised.

"The individual has been made fully aware of the reasons for this request which we believe to be a reasonable one."