MRM.COM : Stories abound of our people defying the odds during the recent cold spells

Post by **POSTMAN** » 22 Mar 2018, 11:36

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Over the last few weeks, colleagues have demonstrated time and again why we remain the number one delivery company in the UK.

Following the recent disruption to the operation caused by Storm Emma and the epic ‘Beast from the East’, we have received an unprecedented number of thank you messages from customers full of praise for our people doing battle with the elements to ensure their post was delivered.

Not only have you repeatedly embodied our values by defying the recent wintry weather, it is your unwavering dedication and commitment to delivering an outstanding service to our customers come what may that has made so many of you so proud to be a part of a business with such incredible colleagues.

Heroism personified

In London, facilities manager Richard Attoe kept Mount Pleasant mail centre in action by singlehandedly gritting and shovelling snow off the yard and surrounding road and pavements, while work area manager Richard Wilkinson demonstrated genuine heroism with his sheer determination to get into work and back home again.

After abandoning his car when he became stuck in the snow in the Medway area where he lives, Richard tried various train lines and managed to get most of the way into London before walking the rest of his commute into work. When he left Mount Pleasant at 10pm that night he only managed to get a train halfway home. A taxi shared with four strangers then got him some more of the way but he ended up having to walk for an hour and a half to cover the final few miles, finally reaching his bed at 2am, only to come back for his late shift the following day.

In north London, colleagues in New Southgate, Highbury and Upper Edmonton pulled together to ensure they cleared every item every day without any safety issues despite the conditions, while colleagues in south east London, did the same in Anerley and Dulwich.

While on a rural duty, postwoman Galina Doncheva from Debden delivery office was rushed to hospital after falling backwards and splitting her head open. Despite her injury she amazed her colleagues by turning up for duty the very next day. Just two weeks later, Galina was lucky to survive a serious road accident but was yet again back in the office the very next day ready to complete her round.

Canvey Island and Chelmsford postmen Nicholas Strachan and Alan Ditch received special praise, like so many of you, for coming into work despite the conditions and safely completing their deliveries.

Medway plant improvement manager Adrian McCabe said: ‘From Medway’s perspective we had a number of people who made significant efforts to battle through pretty horrendous conditions from as far away as Canterbury and Tonbridge. But we also had some exceptional colleagues who went above and beyond, including postmen Ty Andrews and Anthony Allerhead, both of whom stayed well beyond their due finish times in support of our customers.’

Meanwhile, Bradford North postman Riaz Hussain traipsed several miles through the worst winter weather in years to ensure a special delivery item from Her Majesty the Queen reached a grateful couple who were celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary, and Dunfermline postman Jamie Beveridge even skied into work – now that’s dedication!

Customer praise

‘Our regular postman Mick has brought our post every day during this recent spell of awful weather. He has remained cheerful, with good grace and good humour. We think he deserves a great big thank you and we're so glad he is our postman.’ Otley customer.
‘Despite awful weather conditions my letter confirming my appointment arrived this morning. I’m a cancer patient with an advanced form of the disease so my appointments could literally be life or death. Thank you so much to whoever delivered it through several feet of snow as our street is blocked, so he must have walked from the van.’ Dunfermline customer.
‘The ‘Beast from the East’ has really hit Pudsey hard and I was amazed to see our postwoman this morning battling the blizzards and still delivering the post! I had a parcel and she gave me it with a smile on her face. My hat goes off to her and she certainly needs recognising for her commitment to delivering our post on days like today!’ Pudsey customer.
‘An elderly man had fallen in the seriously icy conditions. I was delighted to see the local postman offer him his jacket, while he was stuck on the floor freezing and unable to move. He then got into his Royal Mail van and took him to A&E for a check-up. Unfortunately I don’t know his name but I believe he should get some recognition.’ Halifax customer.
The mayor of Rugby, Councillor Mrs Belinda Garcia, posted a message on her Facebook page: ‘Tim Dawson fantastic postman doing Rugby proud’ after posing for a photo with Tim, who is one of our longest serving postmen in Rugby.

Mr Rush · Post by **Mr Rush** » 22 Mar 2018, 18:00

POSTMAN wrote:While on a rural duty, postwoman Galina Doncheva from Debden delivery office was rushed to hospital after falling backwards and splitting her head open.

Sounds like someone didn't adhere to Dynamic Risk Assessment.

Mobey · Post by **Mobey** » 22 Mar 2018, 18:06

‘An elderly man had fallen in the seriously icy conditions. I was delighted to see the local postman offer him his jacket, while he was stuck on the floor freezing and unable to move. He then got into his Royal Mail van and took him to A&E for a check-up. Unfortunately I don’t know his name but I believe he should get some recognition.’

Lucky he hadn't broken his hip or anything or something more serious, he could have done quite a bit of damage and I don't think the family would have been very happy.

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 22 Mar 2018, 19:36

POSTMAN wrote:

Heroism personified

........while work area manager Richard Wilkinson demonstrated genuine heroism with his sheer determination to get into work and back home again.

Sorry, this is just b****x of the highest order - comparing him to (of numerous examples we could pick) say the firefighters who battled the Grenfell Tower fire.

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 22 Mar 2018, 20:39

yellowbelly wrote:
POSTMAN wrote:

Heroism personified

........while work area manager Richard Wilkinson demonstrated genuine heroism with his sheer determination to get into work and back home again.

Sorry, this is just b****x of the highest order - comparing him to (of numerous examples we could pick) say the firefighters who battled the Grenfell Tower fire.

And to refer to him as a hero when everyone was told not to travel in such conditions is sheer lunacy

Post by **fly-catchers** » 22 Mar 2018, 20:44

This whole article comes across as a windup! "While on a rural duty, postwoman Galina Doncheva from Debden delivery office was rushed to hospital after falling backwards and splitting her head open. Despite her injury she amazed her colleagues by turning up for duty the very next day. Just two weeks later, Galina was lucky to survive a serious road accident but was yet again back in the office the very next day ready to complete her round." Nice to see that RM don't give a toss about your well being just as long as you never go sick!

Janet Brum · Post by **Janet Brum** » 22 Mar 2018, 20:48

I bet the russian lady Galina is a new starter and doesn`t get sick pay...

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 22 Mar 2018, 22:42

Ha! And none of these 'heroics' will be remembered when one of them wants to work to their time one busy Wednesday in the future for personal reasons or have the temerity to request a Saturday off to attend a family member's wedding.

Post by **Lincox** » 23 Mar 2018, 17:54

The sad part is that this sounds to me that they are trying to justify not paying those who were unable to get in to work thus forcing them to use up holiday pay or making up the time. If these are the heroes/heroines then this company must be the supervillain. No morals, no sympathy, no ethics, in fact SFA.

Post by **Pathfinder** » 23 Mar 2018, 18:19

Must be a fine line between royal mails idea of heroism and my idea of an idiot!

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 23 Mar 2018, 18:42

crimson king wrote:Ha! And none of these 'heroics' will be remembered when one of them wants to work to their time one busy Wednesday in the future for personal reasons or have the temerity to request a Saturday off to attend a family member's wedding.

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 27 Mar 2018, 18:29

Mobey wrote:
‘An elderly man had fallen in the seriously icy conditions. I was delighted to see the local postman offer him his jacket, while he was stuck on the floor freezing and unable to move. He then got into his Royal Mail van and took him to A&E for a check-up. Unfortunately I don’t know his name but I believe he should get some recognition.’
Lucky he hadn't broken his hip or anything or something more serious, he could have done quite a bit of damage and I don't think the family would have been very happy.

I think you're making a lot of presumptions there and in my view that sort of attitude (don't do anything just in case) is now commonplace, but contemptible.

Why not assume a likely case.

Old man falls. Postman sees fall and goes to see if he's okay. He puts his coat over him while he lies on the ground.
Old man gets up, possibly assisted by postman, possibly by one or more others, we don't know. Maybe the postman is a trained first-aider and has assessed the casualty. You don't know.
Postman takes him to hospital in work van in case he is shocked or suffering from a cold-related injury (why not, by the way, chastise him for breaking the terms of the van insurance?)

Consider another, just as likely, scenario to your hip injury hypothesis (when it is unlikely the man would be able to rise anyway): pensioner catches hypothermia in freezing conditions and dies while postman stands watching.

kookoo32 · Post by **kookoo32** » 27 Mar 2018, 18:50

POSTMAN wrote: ‘An elderly man had fallen in the seriously icy conditions. I was delighted to see the local postman offer him his jacket, while he was stuck on the floor freezing and unable to move. He then got into his Royal Mail van and took him to A&E for a check-up. Unfortunately I don’t know his name but I believe he should get some recognition.’ Halifax customer.

Correct me if I'm wrong but we are not allowed to carry members of the public in our vans. Never mind deviating from our delivery route.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 27 Mar 2018, 18:57

kookoo32 wrote:
POSTMAN wrote: ‘An elderly man had fallen in the seriously icy conditions. I was delighted to see the local postman offer him his jacket, while he was stuck on the floor freezing and unable to move. He then got into his Royal Mail van and took him to A&E for a check-up. Unfortunately I don’t know his name but I believe he should get some recognition.’ Halifax customer.
Correct me if I'm wrong but we are not allowed to carry members of the public in our vans. Never mind deviating from our delivery route.

Exceptions can be made in emergencies, force majeure and other such circumstances.

kookoo32 · Post by **kookoo32** » 27 Mar 2018, 19:01

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
kookoo32 wrote:
POSTMAN wrote: ‘An elderly man had fallen in the seriously icy conditions. I was delighted to see the local postman offer him his jacket, while he was stuck on the floor freezing and unable to move. He then got into his Royal Mail van and took him to A&E for a check-up. Unfortunately I don’t know his name but I believe he should get some recognition.’ Halifax customer.
Correct me if I'm wrong but we are not allowed to carry members of the public in our vans. Never mind deviating from our delivery route.
Exceptions can be made in emergencies, force majeure and other such circumstances.

Good to know. Though in that instance I would have called the emergency services rather than risk further injuring some old bloke and copping an earful from my DOM.