Sadie Hamlyn nee Lawrence Kent.Born 13/4/22

[Matt James]

(Telegram Girl)

Dear Mr Roger Green

My grandmother wrote out the following reminiscence following your recent call for information about telegram delivery boys/girls in our local press. We live in Devon, but as you can see from the information below, my grandmother was brought up in Kent.

Sadie Hamlyn nee Lawrence
Born 13/4/22
'I was a telegram girl at 10 years old. My Aunt had the local Post Office, none of the big houses had phones so everything came to the Post Office. Then in 1937 I was apprenticed to a large sub Post Office and myself and a friend (another apprentice) were assistants, letter sorters and telegram girls. The radius for telegram delivery was three miles. The big houses relied on us. The Post Office received threepence for 1 mile, going up by the half mile until it was 1/3d for 3 miles. It was all cycling all weathers and times and we took turns to go out. This was in the Dover and Deal area and I was delivering telegrams from 1937 to 1943 - a hectic time and a lot of change.'

I hope this is of interest to you, especially in light of your note that there were few telegram girls. Gran was very keen to tell her story.

Many thanks
Sincerely
Kate Strasdin (Grandaughter)

[Matt James]

a telegram girl, fantastic, thanks for telling your story
_________________
paul girling

[Matt James]

Thank You Sadie & Kate for forwarding your story, I found it most interesting , as I give talks to schools & colleges and OAP clubs, on the GPO. I am always stressing the importance of the Girl/lady members of staff. After all it it was'nt for the ladies in 1915 , we would not have London Districts Well Done!!
_________________
Woodie