Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 15:05:19 GMT
Now 75 and retired for 19 years, I read with interest the article in the BT Today Magazine regarding the Telegram Messenger Boys
I joined as a telegram messenger boy direct from grammer school at the age of 16 ½ on 1st September 1949 and was soon riding one of the 3 BSA 250cc Motorcycles based at Ashford Kent.
Whenever I recall my messenger days the same funny incidents always comes to mind – here are one or two of them:-
I was one of six lads at the Ashford Kent office and at that time all of us smoked. Our system was always that four of us would take turns to buy ½ oz packet of “A1” tobacco at 1s 10d bring it back to the office where it would be cut into four with a pair of scissors, This normally worked very well but on one occasion when it was my turn to buy, I arrived back without it – I had lost it. Nobody belived me so I retraced my steps back to the shop but I hadn’t left it there. On my way back I looked into all the gratings in the path and low & behold about 6 feet down in one of them was our packet of A1, but regrettably there was no way I could get to it, so it cost me for another packet.
At one time the telephone exchange was being enlarged at the end of the Post Office yard and a very large lorry was standing with its tailgate down and scaffold boards up into the back of it. One of the lads came back from a delivery, rode into the yard, saw this and accelerated his motorcycle straight up the boards and into the back of the lorry.
As you must be aware all telegram boys had to be “christened” and our normal procedure involved holding the newby down and pouring water into his face and up his nose however, on one occasion a rather small lad paddy Campbell who I understand returned to Ireland and continued his career in Belfast. Opted to put on as many jackets and coats that we could get o him – he finished up bigger than us but we had to get them off very quickly as he was about to faint – we never did that again.
I suppose we were no different than the lads at other offices but on numerous occasions all our motorbikes would be out of action mainly due to accidents, so on theses occasions we would be sent on cycles, sometimes on 15-20 mile round trips. If this happened we always made darn sure that we didn’t arrive back until it was time to sign off.
I remember being sent out one dark Saturday evening with a telegram, and when the fellow opened it he immediately gave me 10/= note (our weekly wage was £2 5s 6d ) I later found out that he had won on the football pools.
Lastly I must tell of the nice new “James” Motorbike we had delivered to us I think it was 197cc and was a lot faster than the BSA’s it was a wonderful little bike and we had not had it very long when I used it on my shift, on a 14 mile round trip, on my way out I visited one of the lads who had smashed into a brick wall a few days earlier and was off sick, and on my way back to the office, and in a hailstorm, a large lorry van came out of a side turning in front of me. The result was that the bike finished up only half its original length and was a “write off” my “flat topped” crash helmet was handed in and I became a postman and failed a medical for forces service.
Although I went on to become a P & TO and later Post Office Manager I have always considered my 1 ½ years messenger service as the best of my 40 years
Reg Jennings (Kent)
I joined as a telegram messenger boy direct from grammer school at the age of 16 ½ on 1st September 1949 and was soon riding one of the 3 BSA 250cc Motorcycles based at Ashford Kent.
Whenever I recall my messenger days the same funny incidents always comes to mind – here are one or two of them:-
I was one of six lads at the Ashford Kent office and at that time all of us smoked. Our system was always that four of us would take turns to buy ½ oz packet of “A1” tobacco at 1s 10d bring it back to the office where it would be cut into four with a pair of scissors, This normally worked very well but on one occasion when it was my turn to buy, I arrived back without it – I had lost it. Nobody belived me so I retraced my steps back to the shop but I hadn’t left it there. On my way back I looked into all the gratings in the path and low & behold about 6 feet down in one of them was our packet of A1, but regrettably there was no way I could get to it, so it cost me for another packet.
At one time the telephone exchange was being enlarged at the end of the Post Office yard and a very large lorry was standing with its tailgate down and scaffold boards up into the back of it. One of the lads came back from a delivery, rode into the yard, saw this and accelerated his motorcycle straight up the boards and into the back of the lorry.
As you must be aware all telegram boys had to be “christened” and our normal procedure involved holding the newby down and pouring water into his face and up his nose however, on one occasion a rather small lad paddy Campbell who I understand returned to Ireland and continued his career in Belfast. Opted to put on as many jackets and coats that we could get o him – he finished up bigger than us but we had to get them off very quickly as he was about to faint – we never did that again.
I suppose we were no different than the lads at other offices but on numerous occasions all our motorbikes would be out of action mainly due to accidents, so on theses occasions we would be sent on cycles, sometimes on 15-20 mile round trips. If this happened we always made darn sure that we didn’t arrive back until it was time to sign off.
I remember being sent out one dark Saturday evening with a telegram, and when the fellow opened it he immediately gave me 10/= note (our weekly wage was £2 5s 6d ) I later found out that he had won on the football pools.
Lastly I must tell of the nice new “James” Motorbike we had delivered to us I think it was 197cc and was a lot faster than the BSA’s it was a wonderful little bike and we had not had it very long when I used it on my shift, on a 14 mile round trip, on my way out I visited one of the lads who had smashed into a brick wall a few days earlier and was off sick, and on my way back to the office, and in a hailstorm, a large lorry van came out of a side turning in front of me. The result was that the bike finished up only half its original length and was a “write off” my “flat topped” crash helmet was handed in and I became a postman and failed a medical for forces service.
Although I went on to become a P & TO and later Post Office Manager I have always considered my 1 ½ years messenger service as the best of my 40 years
Reg Jennings (Kent)