UK's longest-serving PO worker’s lifetime of letters

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 093859.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When 82-year-old Kathleen White started working in her local post office at the tender age of 15, mail was still delivered by horse-drawn carriage and telegrams were at the height of their popularity.

Now, 68 years later the pensioner is still working there — making her the UK’s longest serving post office worker.

She got a job as an assistant at Claverley Post Office in 1942 and took to it like a duck to water. So much so that by 1960 she became its postmistress.

Miss White said: “I never thought I would still be here 50 years later. It seems as though I have always been here.

“I have always enjoyed what I have done. We are part of the village. It is a dedication really. We look after the pensioners. They all say they don’t know what they would do without us. We are part of the community. I enjoy seeing the people.

“You get used to your customers, so if anything happens, if they don’t turn up we make inquiries. It is all part of village life.”

And they would be lost without her, with no buses to the nearest city of Wolverhampton, and only two community buses to nearby Bridgnorth.

Miss White runs the post office and shop with the help of her niece, Ann Madeley.

“I had a job to get any holidays, often I wouldn’t,” she added.

She is behind the counter six days a week, rising every day at 6.45am. But she has no plans to retire. “I feel fighting fit. I say there is no such thing as old age. You just take each day as it comes.

“I have no plans to retire anytime soon. Offer letters to sell the post office are always coming through and I just rip them up.”

The busy post office survived the recent Government cull of branches across the country much to the delight of its customers.

Miss White said: “You never know what is going to happen or what is round the corner but they did not close us down and we are still here.

“I don’t seem to sit down very much. We are always busy. I do get tired but I try to have a sit down before I go out but really it is keeping busy that keeps you going.”

The post-mistress has also tackled training up on its new computer systems.

A highlight in her long career was being invited to Buckingham Palace for a garden tea party. She was invited for her services to the village.

She was recently surprised with a special award from the Post Office for her decades of dedicated service.

[Stormproof]

Miss White.........this firm obviously plays havoc with everyones social life.

[DGP1]

Miss White.........this firm obviously plays havoc with everyones social life.

Didn't she use the lead pipe-in the library

[axeman]

obviously 'mustard' at her job ?

[smokerjim]

obviously 'mustard' at her job ?

Maybe I should get myself a SPO - sounds like a "plum" job

[Lounge Lizard]

Miss White.........this firm obviously plays havoc with everyones social life.

No, not at all, she is said to prefer younger men and lives in hope that one day Mr Right will walk into her Post Office and they will live happily ever after.