Red letter day for Lennie

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.forres-gazette.co.uk/news/fu ... ennie.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FORRES Sorting Office delivery manager, Lennie Nicol has hung up his postbag with 45 years of sterling service under his belt after hitting the big 60.

After starting at age 15 as a telegram boy, he was following in the footseps of his dad, Lachie, who worked as a postie for 42 years.

He worked his way through the ranks, and was appointed delivery manager in 1987, winning the respect of all his colleagues. He has seen many changes in Royal Mail operations over the years and was able to oversee the opening of the new sorting office in 1990 after it moved from the High Street.

After "Mr Royal Mail", as he is fondly known, announced his retirement, staff had no intention of letting him go quietly and managers, current and retired staff including posties, gathered together to spring a special surprise on him at the Nairn Road office.

They all raised their glasses on Friday to the man who always has plenty to say for himself, but was lost for words when faced with a crowd of 50 who had come to wish him well.

"They told me it was just a quiet event," he said. "It's just fantastic. I can't believe that so many people have turned out, especially the old posties."

Lennie who lives in Allan Drive was presented with gifts by colleagues and his wife Linda who accompanied him was presented with a special bouquet.

Linda revealed that she was looking forward to Lennie's retirement less than him, and hopes he will be out and about enjoying his hobbies and out from under her feet, as he has already made a pest of himself attempting to use the hoover.

He has already swapped his posties bike and has been spotted out and about the town at various locations, after buying himself a second hand bike to get around. Lennie is also an active member of the Forres Angling Association and enjoys gardening and is hoping to spend more time pursuing both passions.

Although Linda is still working, the couple who are keen caravanners are hoping to spend more time enjoying life together and with their family. They have three grown up sons: Graham, Ivan and Lachhie: two work in farming and one is a plumber and they also have grandchildren.

The couple were treated to a buffet lunch and were planning on having a few drams later on with present and former staff. Lenny also celebrated the big 60 with family and friends over the weekend.

During the gathering at the sorting office, manager, Bill Tulloch paid tribute to the man who he said "taught me everything" and despite working with letters all his life, has never learnt the art of tact in letter writing when it comes to expressing his opinions.

"Lenny would never suffer fools and never missed an opportunity," said Bill. "He would see red and write a letter and I would hold it back, which was just as well when he came the next morning and he said he wished he hadn't written it!"

Described as a colourful character with his trademark waistcoats and fancy ties, Mr Nicol was praised by his colleagues for his dedication to duty, which including ensuring that even during the recent wintry spell posties continued delivering the mail to homes around Forres, despite the conditions which made it hard going.

"He told staff that Britian had won two world wars, so we could manage to deliver the post," joked Mr Tulloch. "He even ensured that people got their post when the office was flooded in 1997."

He said Mr Nicol once revealed feeling guilty for putting his work ethic and exacting standards onto others, after telling a postie who phoned in sick with a sore foot, that if he could be out the previous night playing pool, he could be at work. It was only after the chap completed two rounds of post, and still had a sore foot, that an x-ray revealed that he had in fact broken a bone.

But there was no hard feelings, with Mr Nicol being well thought of by his colleagues who all turned out to wish him well on Friday.

In his leaving sheet, which Royal Mail requires him to fill in, he said that he thought it was time to call it a day and let younger staff take over the reins, and in trademark style added that with these changing times, he was fed up of 'filling in spread sheets and wading through treacle.'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

In his leaving sheet, which Royal Mail requires him to fill in, he said that he thought it was time to call it a day and let younger staff take over the reins, and in trademark style added that with these changing times, he was fed up of 'filling in spread sheets and wading through treacle.'

But

He said Mr Nicol once revealed feeling guilty for putting his work ethic and exacting standards onto others, after telling a postie who phoned in sick with a sore foot, that if he could be out the previous night playing pool, he could be at work. It was only after the chap completed two rounds of post, and still had a sore foot, that an x-ray revealed that he had in fact broken a bone.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Linda revealed that she was looking forward to Lennie's retirement less than him, and hopes he will be out and about enjoying his hobbies and out from under her feet, as he has already made a pest of himself attempting to use the hoover." - looks as if it could be the end of a long marriage if he hangs around the house too much or will he have the sense to see it as the best excuse ever to regularly spend a few hours a day down the pub spending his hard earned pension ?