A tribute to one of Colne's longest-serving postmen

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THIS week, our column takes a warm-hearted look at a true friend and colleague of mine for many years and whose sad death last month brought a sorrow to all those who knew him during his 73 years on Earth.

Eddie Thorley was a truly kind and caring person whose family meant the world to him and who always had a smile for everyone. Eddie, although christened Edwin, always was known as Eddie. He was a true Colner and while growing up in the town with his sister, Marlene, would become an admirer of our beautiful countryside which he was to appreciate all his life.

Eddie, as a young man, was an excellent player of many sports and enjoyed especially his footballing days. In his early 20s, Eddie married his dear wife Gwen and their cosy home in Colne's River Street was where they would spend 51 years happily married together.

They had a son Michael, who inherited his parents' love of the countryside as the three of them went on many happy family holidays throughout England.

Eddie, at the age of 21, became a postman at the now lost Royal Mail sorting office in Albert Road, Colne, and would chalk up four decades of dedicated service, becoming ninth on the list of the longest-serving Colne postmen. After many years delivering mail on foot to Trawden farms, Eddie became a postman-driver and for the rest of his long Royal Mail career, delivered to the farms and cottages in the majestic scenery of the Black Lane Ends area.

Eddie was extremely knowledgeable about all the wildlife in his beloved countryside and, on his return to our sorting office, would tell of his encounters with calling curlews, leaping lapwings and in 1982, a memorable sighting of two tranquil tawny owls sleeping on an old barn roof.

At Eddie's passing, a grandson, William, was a most welcome addition to the Thorley family and here again, many happy hours were spent on days out and holidays.

Eddie also spent enjoyable times at his allotment cultivating fruit and vegetables with his good friend, John Galvin.

For relaxation, Eddie had an excellent collection of Guy Mitchell songs and indeed, along with Gwen, he went to see him on stage quite a few times and actually met the great American star in person.

Eddie was also a wonderful impressionist and at our sorting office would take off Stan Laurel, Frank Randle and Reg Varney, leaving colleagues Harry Waters, Harold Evans, Tommy Todhunter, Brian Baistow and myself holding our sides laughing.

Eddie had many good friends at Colne Sorting Office, as indeed also many of his daily customers of the many years of his rural rounds.

So, as Eddie made his final journey, the hearse and cortège went on a last evocative route. Firstly, past his family home of over a half a century, then the Royal Mail sorting office where he worked for over four decades, then up Skipton Old Road and past the many farms he delivered to, come rain, snow, hail or shine and, as we arrived at the crematorium, we knew we were saying farewell to a most dear friend we'd never forget.