Postie zooms off in Ferrari

[motherhubbard]

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=923104" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


A RETIRING postman swapped his mail van for a red Ferrari to complete his final Saturday round.

Mike Young, 65, has worked for Royal Mail for 18 years and for all but two of those has delivered to villages near Watlington.

Residents gathered to wish him farewell as he was driven around in Britwell Salome resident Chris Bidgood’s classic sports car.

Villagers in Brightwell Baldwin and Upperton raised £440 to pay for a photographic portrait sitting for the postman and his family, while people in Britwell Salome presented him with a cheque for £280.

Mr Young, who lives in Saunders Close, Watlington, with his wife Diana, joined Royal Mail after being made redundant as manager of the old Somerfield store in Sonning Common.


He said: “I have enjoyed working outside and you are virtually your own boss as no one is chasing you and there are no people to worry about apart from the customers on your round.

“The biggest part of giving up work is there’s a lot of people that I meet every day who I probably won’t see that often. It will take a while to get used to it. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting people. We have a little chat about their families and mine and it’s wonderful.

“People have been very kind and generous over the years — sometimes they made me feel that I wasn’t just a postman. Lots of people are pleased to see you even though you take them bills.”

He said he particularly enjoyed delivering congratulation cards to new parents and he always tried to complete his rounds even in bad weather.

Leigh Greenham, who has lived in Brightwell Baldwin for 20 years, said: “Mike has been so reliable, trustworthy and helpful. It’s an in-joke that if you want to know what’s going on in the village, ask Mike. He keeps us up on all the gossip.

“He deserved his service to be recognised because he is such a nice chap.”

Mr Young, who has two children and two grandchildren, said he might buy a laptop or garden furniture with the money from residents. He completed his last round on Tuesday.

[Straight4ward]

Well his public certainly appreciated him.
I wonder what Royal Mail gave him?

[clashcityrocker]

Well his public certainly appreciated him.
I wonder what Royal Mail gave him?

Maybe they let him keep the body warmer.
I haven't seen one of them for a few years.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Villagers in Brightwell Baldwin and Upperton raised £440 to pay for a photographic portrait sitting for the postman and his family" - I could think of many, many better ways of spending £440.

[Stormproof]

[stokes11eg]

Well done--it's always so nice when customers show they DO appreciate the humble Postie!

[baldrick]

Well his public certainly appreciated him.
I wonder what Royal Mail gave him?

They would probably have given him a warning for not wearing RM issue footwear and a hi-vis, if he had not been retiring.
Enjoy your retirement mate.