Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 15:07:35 GMT
As an Ex Telegram Boy I was interested to read in the BT Today about you research and felt I would like to give you my memories.
My memories go back a long way even longer than Frank Hood from Birmingham. I am now 86 years old and started work as a Seasonal Boy Messenger one month before my 14lh birthday at the Head Post Office at LAIRG in Sutherland. As a boy from a 'not well off family it was vital that I was successful in getting the work which I knew would become permanent by the end of the summer. My Parents had very hard times living on and working a small Croft (Small holding) which made very little money
In those days there were a number of Shooting and Fishing Lodges in the
Lairg area where wealthy gentry came for their sport etc - there was no
telephone communication to those places, in fact it was almost non-
existant in the Postal area.
During the Spring/Summer months I was kept very busy with many long hard runs to these lodges, in addition to the telegrams to the local populace. To give you example, one day I delivered telegrams twice to one lodge 12 miles away and to two other lodges in opposite directions each over 5 miles away, as well as local runs up to two miles away. To the distant lodges I had to collect Porterage Charges at rates of so much per mile over 3 miles. Occasionally I met some of the gentry on the way and they would give me a 'Tip' (usually 6 pence old money) which considering my weekly wage was 7/6d it was a very good 'Tip' They also gave instruction to their Butler at the lodge to always give me a refreshment before I left. It was very hard work on my Pedal Cycle which I had to keep in tip top condition.
On one day in the winter with heavy snow on the roads I had to deliver a telegram to the Estate Lodge Keeper (twelve miles away) over the poor mooreland road. I had to walk with my cycle over 4 miles. Fortunately the Keepers wife gave me a hot meal and just when I was about to leave a lorry appeared on the horizon carrying foodstuffs for the two families living there. The Estate Keeper made me wait and he arranged for me to get a lift back 5 miles to the main road.
In the winter months there were few telegrams to deliver so I had to work in the Sorting Office doing several jobs including stencilling the names on the sorting frames which I enjoyed On one occasion I remember stencilling a parcel frame and did what I thought was a good job. The Overseer came along and decided it was not good enough and made me I had to re-do it- When he saw the second attempt he said "that's better, now remember lad if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well". I always remembered those words and in later years followed his advice.
In those days telegrams were sent and received by Morse but I was never given the opportunity to learn it. The telephone eventually took over but at that time was almost no existant One incident concerning Morse I remember was at the early stages of the War when the Battleship HMS Hood was sunk. One of our SC&T's in the Writing Room was listening to Morse Code on a small home made radio when he picked up a distant signal from the ship when it was hit. We were aware of the sinking long before it was announced.
In the summer I played Tennis in the evenings - even after those long runs - and probably that is one reason why I am so fit for my age today , I still enjoy playing Lawn Bowls.
Unfortunately I do not have any photographs to show
Boyce Macleod
My memories go back a long way even longer than Frank Hood from Birmingham. I am now 86 years old and started work as a Seasonal Boy Messenger one month before my 14lh birthday at the Head Post Office at LAIRG in Sutherland. As a boy from a 'not well off family it was vital that I was successful in getting the work which I knew would become permanent by the end of the summer. My Parents had very hard times living on and working a small Croft (Small holding) which made very little money
In those days there were a number of Shooting and Fishing Lodges in the
Lairg area where wealthy gentry came for their sport etc - there was no
telephone communication to those places, in fact it was almost non-
existant in the Postal area.
During the Spring/Summer months I was kept very busy with many long hard runs to these lodges, in addition to the telegrams to the local populace. To give you example, one day I delivered telegrams twice to one lodge 12 miles away and to two other lodges in opposite directions each over 5 miles away, as well as local runs up to two miles away. To the distant lodges I had to collect Porterage Charges at rates of so much per mile over 3 miles. Occasionally I met some of the gentry on the way and they would give me a 'Tip' (usually 6 pence old money) which considering my weekly wage was 7/6d it was a very good 'Tip' They also gave instruction to their Butler at the lodge to always give me a refreshment before I left. It was very hard work on my Pedal Cycle which I had to keep in tip top condition.
On one day in the winter with heavy snow on the roads I had to deliver a telegram to the Estate Lodge Keeper (twelve miles away) over the poor mooreland road. I had to walk with my cycle over 4 miles. Fortunately the Keepers wife gave me a hot meal and just when I was about to leave a lorry appeared on the horizon carrying foodstuffs for the two families living there. The Estate Keeper made me wait and he arranged for me to get a lift back 5 miles to the main road.
In the winter months there were few telegrams to deliver so I had to work in the Sorting Office doing several jobs including stencilling the names on the sorting frames which I enjoyed On one occasion I remember stencilling a parcel frame and did what I thought was a good job. The Overseer came along and decided it was not good enough and made me I had to re-do it- When he saw the second attempt he said "that's better, now remember lad if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well". I always remembered those words and in later years followed his advice.
In those days telegrams were sent and received by Morse but I was never given the opportunity to learn it. The telephone eventually took over but at that time was almost no existant One incident concerning Morse I remember was at the early stages of the War when the Battleship HMS Hood was sunk. One of our SC&T's in the Writing Room was listening to Morse Code on a small home made radio when he picked up a distant signal from the ship when it was hit. We were aware of the sinking long before it was announced.
In the summer I played Tennis in the evenings - even after those long runs - and probably that is one reason why I am so fit for my age today , I still enjoy playing Lawn Bowls.
Unfortunately I do not have any photographs to show
Boyce Macleod