Villagers in Trudoxhill felt as if they were losing a friend when postman Paul Uphill retired after delivering post for 25 years.
Born and brought up in Frome, 55-year-old Mr Uphill became a postman when he was 20 years old getting up at 4am and sorting post from the Market Place Post Office.
He was assigned the Rudge round which included Oldford, Spring Gardens, Orchardleigh, Lullington, Standerwick and Berkley.
For the past 25 years, Mr Uphill has been delivering letters and parcels to 250 houses in and around the Trudoxhill area.
He has always enjoyed the outdoor life and has been a keen sportsman as well as a football referee. As a boy he earned pocket money delivering newspapers in Frome.
He said: "I never minded getting wet and I enjoyed the chats with the people I delivered to."
He has been bitten by dogs on several occasions but reckons this is the only downside to a job he has loved.
Mr Uphill lives with his partner Wendy in Hodders Close and has a son David, daughter Katherine and four grandchildren.
He enjoys gardening and walking and will be spending the summer outdoors but plans to get a part-time job when the weather gets colder.
On July 4 Trudoxhill villages organised a party for their postie at the White Hart pub.
