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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:57:17 GMT
On one occasion I was given an envelope to delivery to an address in Erdington. On arrival at the house there was a guy with a camera, and as I handed over the letter to the man at the house, this guy took a picture. The letter contained a thank you and a cheque for an amount of money, apparently this man had reported someone damaging a phone box and this was his reward. I returned to the office thinking no more of the incident. Some days later I was sent for by the Inspector of Messengers, on entering his office he had a copy of the Birmingham Evening Mail. He then showed me this picture the guy had taken when I delivered the letter to Erdington. The picture was taken from the back of me, unfortunately at the time my hair was a little long and hanging over my collar. The Inspector was not very pleased as you were expected to keep your hair short it was just my luck this guy took the picture from the angle he did. I never got sent anywhere again. Keith Cheshire 62 - 67 (wag)  |
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:57:32 GMT
I recall an occasion when I was covering the Return Letter Branch (RLB) duty.
The office was in Clay Lane in Yardley. It employed all disable people opening the undelivered mail and returning it to sender. The boy messengers job had the job of resealing the envelopes with a white seal.
One of the tasks of the duty was at 2pm every day to bring a briefcase full of paperwork from the RLB to the registry in the Head Office in Pinfold Street.
It was a very hot day and Clay Lane was quite a steep hill carrying this briefcase. At the Coventry Road you caught a bus into town.
When I got on the bus I took my hat off because I was so hot. When I got to town I got off the bus and walked across town. Just as I approached the HO I remembered I had left my hat on the bus. I had no choice I went to report it to the Inspector of Messengers (Wilf Cox) he was not amused. He asked me what the number of the bus. On that day I had decided to catch a Midland Red bus, he hit the roof when I told him.
He told me to take the briefcase to the registry and come back and see him afterwards.
When I went back to see him, he gave me a lecture about wearing my hat, said they had found the hat and it was at the bus station, and I had better get down there to get it back.
Keith Cheshire
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:58:01 GMT
I remember starting as a boy messenger in Pinfold Street in 1962.
I was given an armband to wear while I waited for a uniform.
I was assigned to another chap that had been there for a few weeks to show me the ropes.
We sat on chairs placed around the edge of the room with a counter with a metal grill where a man sat, he had crowns on his lapels, he was known as the PHG. The room was called the telegraph delivery.
I remember there was an air filled tube between the Instrument Gallery (IG) that the telegrams came down for delivery.
The PHG would send us out in turn to deliver the telegrams. This was known as a Whip. I do not know what it stands for or means, but when you were out delivering it was known as out on the Whip.
If the PHG took a dislike to you he would send you on foot to Lawley Street Goods Railway Station, the longest point from the Office.
Keith Cheshire
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:58:24 GMT
I delivered a telegram to Mrs Smith who was feeding her baby in the street surrounded by friends. Her friend opened the telegram and shouted out �what are you going to do about the baby ? � your husband�s coming home and he�s been a POW for six years
Doug Britton
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:58:44 GMT
I was a telegram boy in 1944 and had to deliver tragic news of death to a young widow at the age of just 14. I had to get neighbours round to the house to console the widow before I handed over the message it was extremely difficult
Albert Baker
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:59:01 GMT
I delivered the first �75,000 pools win to a Birmingham woman who didn�t give me a tip, but when I went to take out an �800 win later in the day the winner was so chuffed she emptied her purse out into my hands.
Frank Hood
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:59:17 GMT
Hi
If anyone remembers working in either of Fordrough Lane / 95 Newhall Street / Granville House / south east Telegram Office Sparkhill / Richmond House / Telephone House or one of the units on Broad Street
Please give your accounts & stories on here
Did any one go into the bunkers in 95 Newhall Street
Roger Green
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