Astley postmaster's 45 years' overtime

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/9017 ... t_for_Tom/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WHEN Tom Hodgkinson took on a temporary job in 1965 little did he expect he'd still be doing it 46 years later!

Now Astley man Tom is taking a well earned rest having just retired as Sub-Postmaster at Blackmoor.

On May 5 1965 Tom moved into the Manchester Road sub post office with his mother, Winnie. Seven years later he took over the reins at the friendly pit village post office opposite the Miners Arms pub "I was working in engineering at Eaton Transmissions at Wakden," recalled Tom who originates from Sale Lane, Tyldesley.

"But when my mum said she couldn't manage on her own I said I'd help her out for the first year."

Tom, who will celebrate his 66th birthday on June 15, is looking forward to retirement following the closure last week of the sub post office which has been part of the Blackmoor community since opening in 1920.

From Monday of this week Post Office transactions and services have been transferred to the Nisa store just 30 yards along Manchester Road from the office where he has served for most of his working life.

Now he and Beryl, his partner for the past 13 years, intend enjoying retirement by travelling to places his six days a week job made it difficult to visit.

"The first adventure will be to visit my brother Bob in Perth, Western Australia," said Tom, who will miss the many friends he has made over the years.

"The job has tied me down so I'm going to get to places I've never had the chance to see. The job has changed so much over the years but I have enjoyed every minute of it. But I think after 46 years retirement is due."

One person who Tom admits was a big help for almost half his time in charge at Blackmoor is Lesley Smith, who as 16 year-old school leaver Lesley Topping from Sherwood Avenue, Astley, spent 20 years working at the Blackmoor office until she left seven years ago.

Tom signed off from behind the counter thanking the community.

"I'd like to thank all the people of Astley for their loyalty and custom - I've made some good friends and have a lot of good memories. I'm very grateful for all the kind messages and gifts I received on my retirement."

[clashcityrocker]

This seems a bit suspicious.
A story about a sub postmaster and no mention of theft?

[BT2010]

This seems a bit suspicious.
A story about a sub postmaster and no mention of theft?

grandfather rights,

he will probably qualify for "innocent until proven guilty".

[blue1873]

This seems a bit suspicious.
A story about a sub postmaster and no mention of theft?

Could it be that it's "BLACK FRIDAY " have anything to do with it,
maybe the high heid yins at RM are superstitious and are just
biding their time to bag him, Seriously though after 46 years
working for this lot the gentleman deserves his retirement
TOM--- Enjoy

[Lounge Lizard]

"The first adventure will be to visit my brother Bob in Perth, Western Australia," said Tom, adding "I'll just have to make sure I don't buy a ticket for Perth, Scotland by mistake"

[subbie]

On a quick count there are more stories of thieving Posties on this Forum than Sub Postmasters, and in any event the allegations against Postmasters are of a technical nature, so people who live in glass houses!!!

Subbie

[Lounge Lizard]

On a quick count there are more stories on here of thieving Sub Postmasters than of retiring Sub Postmasters, but that doesn't prove anything.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

On a quick count there are more stories of thieving Posties on this Forum than Sub Postmasters, and in any event the allegations against Postmasters are of a technical nature, so people who live in glass houses!!!

Subbie

But there are 12000 Subbies and 160,000 postal workers - so you will hear more stories of dishonest posties than subbies. We have also to my knowledge had at least one postmaster and one postie convicted for Murder but that does not prove nothing.

BTW I think everyone before your post was having a laugh and try to get some one to bite, I guess it worked.

[clashcityrocker]

so people who live in glass houses!!!

My suggestion wasn't that there ARE a lot of thieving subbbies, but a lot of them are ACCUSED of it, even when it is unclear if any money has been stolen at all.
The system seems so inept that it would appear to be impossible to go through 45 years as a subbie and NOT be accused of theft (or false accounting) at some point.

[Lounge Lizard]

On a quick count there are more stories of thieving Posties on this Forum than Sub Postmasters, and in any event the allegations against Postmasters are of a technical nature, so people who live in glass houses!!!

Subbie

But there are 12000 Subbies and 160,000 postal workers - so you will hear more stories of dishonest posties than subbies. We have also to my knowledge had at least one postmaster and one postie convicted for Murder but that does not prove nothing.

BTW I think everyone before your post was having a laugh and try to get some one to bite, I guess it worked.

Yet I've not heard of a DOM convicted for murder, so surely that doesn't make them the salt of the earth.