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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:47:25 GMT
Boy Messenger exam november 1935 commenced employment January 1936 at S.W.D.O. London SW1 Number 135
The wages then was twelve shillings and sixpence a week out of that you had to pay union money and a penny for the daily papers in the rest room.
The uniform then consisted of a dog collar,braid on shoulder,gaiters,belt and pouch inspected every commencement of duty
Started on walking duties making deliveries to Buckingham Palace P.O. most of the Goverment Depts along Whitehall also to then the German Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop
Late 1937 transferred on cycles duties at Clapham Common SW4 London and awarded one chevron.This office was called Snip (messenger talk) as it only had 4 lads on duty 2 late 2 early and a small area of delivery (happy days there)
Returned to S.W.D.O. just proir to out break of war to 3 chevrons and senior messenger
In November 1939 the Civil Service Exam which decided how you progress onward in the post office was cancelled owing to the out break of the war so had to commence adult duties as a postman at Battersea D.O. London sw11
Returned after serving war years in R.A.F. and sat exams to enter on Administration duties
Completed my career in post office in 1984 awarded ISM
Edward Evans
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:46:41 GMT
One Morning a lad was attending to some boats near Mr Job's Store (Jersey) when he fell into the water.
The tide was very high at the time , but a Telegraph Messenger Boy named William John Hawkins Le Sueur 16 years old , who resides in Ann Street (Jersey), and who happened to be passing at the time , and seeing the lad in difficulties, without hesitation jumped in the water and brought him safely ashore
The brave young telegram messenger boy received hearty congratulation from a number of spectators on his quick and plucky actions
Jill O'Neil ( William was her uncle)
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:46:06 GMT
Originally posted by Ted
Roger, I knew Alan Grafton very well from the Spring gardens days,can you add him to the my story. Not seen Alan for a few years now although he doesn't live far from me in Droylsden,I think Alan still lives in Gorton. Alan was a keen football man who played in goal following his dads footsteps of actually playing for Man City,Alan played for local sides in and around Manchester at a good standard,at the post office he played for Postal Athletic and S.E.D.O. (117 Stockport road) they played in a Wednesday league talking of which If you were on lates the bosses would allow you to have the afternoon off to go and play for the team, I played for Postal Athletic who were run from Newton Street I can recall a walk holder called George Swain being the manager unfortunately George and myself fell out one day and that was me finished, my team mates were Billy Horrocks,Joe Fisher,Alan Hargreaves and Tom Jones who was a first teamer back in 64/65.Alan was and probably still is a great organiser of events, he was a member of the M/c County F.A. and ran the Gorton League too.Like myself he is a staunch CITY fan Alan is a well known and popular figure amongst the football folk of Manchester. _________________ Ted knott 12 Davids road Droylsden Manchester m43 6ww
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:45:48 GMT
I was a messenger boy in Manchester from 15 years old right from school, & took medical retirement , I am 63 years old (2007).
The only job & great job I had & I still run the Royal Mail National Darts Tournament Currently
Joinging at 15 & having to work saturdays was a real bind as I supported Manchester City, on saturday afternoons when City was at home & if PHG Bill Ellis was on duty who was also a City supporter, He used to wait till around 2pm & send me out with telegrams around the Moss side area where City's ground Maine Road was then & it said on the bottom of the chitty Don't return untill after the match , off I went on my bike did the telegrams & watched the match , Bill passed away now but what a lovely man.......
I was also selected to be the telegram boy which was based at Manchester racecourse where the office took the telegrams & I rode into the City Centre to our main office to get them dispatched,Great Days Great Workmates, simply the best
Allan James Grafton
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:45:05 GMT
I was employed as a temporary boy messenger at the age of 13 in York in 1926.
We messengers were housed in the basement of the Head Post Office in Lendal, York.
Our Inspector at the time was a medium size 'ramrod ' indivial called George Verney.An ex-army , kindly ,disciplinarian who extended his authority to his twenty five messenger boys whose ages ranged from 14 to 19.
In order to gain civil service certificate, we had to attend night school until we were 16, learn 'standard' handwriting and pass the medical. One Irish lad called 'spud' Murphy, undergoing his medical was given a mug to urinate in-put it in the middle of the surgery floor and missed.
As temporary messengers, we were employed on a Saturday attached to press reporters on the Knavesmire to carry reports of football matches back to the news office in Coney Street.
Our attendances covered from 7am to 9pm, The 7 to 8 period involved cleaning the front and rear oil lamps used the previous night. The seniors sent one young lad to the stores manager for some red oil for the back lamps.(Hullaballoo)
Delivery started at 8am and telegrams were dropped from the telegraph room on the top floor, in carriers down a brass tube into a small cage in the basement. New recruits were kidded to pay the Inspector a shilling for measuring for his uniforms.
One laddie dropped a shillings worth of coppers down the tube! everybody got a share!
From 7am to 9pm we had to wait in the telegraph room to be despatched,and it was intriguing to watch the telegraphists operating their morse keys and interpreting the sounders as they wrote out the messages. This was before the advent of teleprinters
I once delivered a telegram to a police station and the sargeant observed "nay lad ,I deant recognise the handwriting!" Also at that time were ABC circular machines which were used to transmit messages ,from sub-post offices
As my seniority grew I was awarded three red stripes and seconded to the race meetings in the silver ring and attended the Assizes at the Crown Court to be available to Barristers.
Each morning ,before duty,Mr Verney held an inspection parade in the Guildhall yard next door and woe betide any boy with dirty boots,badges or buttons.
Our system of identifying distances from the Post Office were concentric circles starting with A and the most distant ones being X Yand Z.
On saturday nights we used to delight in racing, threading our way through the congested crowds in Coney Street, clanging our bells and seeming very important.
After our tern as Telegraph Messengers, we could progress to be postmen, train as Telegraphists or transfer to the G.P.O. Telephone Engineers as youths-in-training, I chose the latter
Just a brrief glimpse of the long dead service of the 1920's
Tom Purt
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:44:28 GMT
Originally posted by Castel
I became a Temp Mgr in June 1938 at the Guernsey HPO. My first duty hours were midday to 8.0pm. I was horrified. Who on earth worked hours like that? My brother had a nice job 8.00 to 1800, good in those days. I was taken around the office by the Head Postman, "Wilkie"to us boys, and finished at the Messengers room where I met some of my future colleagues. I was then given an armband which I understood had been loaned to me by the Postmaster General and had to be carefully looked after. My first round was an easy one, perhaps to get me used to the work. It was for the Southern Railway Shipping office at the harbour, and there was no diffficulty in finding that. I walked back very proudly, when I was suddenly aware that my armband had vanished! "Wilkie" who wasa also in charge of postman uniforms nearly went mad. Did I not know how much the armband had cost the government and I was to go back along the route to find it. Fortunately for me a Counter clerk came along just then and handed him the missing item. I managed to keep out of trouble for the rest of the day but I still wonder how much the armband cost. It was a never to be forotten day.
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:43:54 GMT
One of my friends Peter Morris had several express parcels to deliver to the Royal Naval Barracks which meant he had to use a tricycle,which had a large basket at the front,as the barracks were only a short distance from the office , he said to another telegram boy 'hop in the basket Stan Ill take you for a ride'!
Off they went,and coming out of the barracks Pete stopped suddenly "up went the lid ,and Stan said what have we stopped for Pete"?
He soon found out "Herr Von Lacey" was sitting astride his motorcycle combination
They both finished up being reprimanded and doing 4 hours punishment duty each
When I was first appointed I had to work at Cosham delivery office which meant we had to deliver telegrams to the two forts (Wigley & Purbrook)
On the top of Portsdown Hill one saturday night it was pouring with rain and very windy, and I had a delivery for fort Purbrook, as I approached the entrance I didn't hear the sentry's challenge fortunately, he wasn't "Trigger Happy" otherwise I wouldn't be here to tell the tale! luckily I heard the second challenge!
Whilst I was at Corsham ,I had a casualty telegram to deliver one sunday morning.
The poor lady was so distressed she sobbed her heart out
I endeavoured to console her ,but as i had more telegrams to deliver ,Iasked a neighbour if she could look after her
I was only 14 1/2 years of age at the time it was so poignant that to this day I can still remember the lady's name and address.
On a lighter note another, a colleague of mine Peter McVittie, used to get free tickets for the nearby Coliseum Theatre.
One day he had 2 free tickets ,and as we both were off duty at 8pm he asked me if I would like to accompany him.I agreed and off we went of course we were still in uniform and we sat in the orchestra stalls with the "toffs"
During the show Peter asked if I wanted a cigarette ? I said thanks,put my handout,and knocked the cigarettes all over the floor!!
He reminds me of this when I see him ,and says "I didn't mind you knocking the cigarettes out of my hand but when you made members of the audience get out of their seats to retrieve them ,I was very embarassed"
Norman Cross
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:42:49 GMT
Originally posted by Peter Love
Hi My name is peter love, I was a mopper at SE1 from 1955 to 1958, nice to hear from someone who worked there albeit a bit before my time. Have to say those three years were the best days of my working life.
Regards
Peter Love
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:42:13 GMT
Joined Post Office as Boy Messenger in June 1940. Office 19a Borough High St London S.E.1. Have you any contacts from the London South East area? I was known as Sammy but,civilian,& family life as John.
Samuel (John)
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:41:23 GMT
Group Photo of Telegram Messenger Boys taken in 1934 at the messengers Institute, Bird Street, London W1 My Brother Charles (Always known as Bob) is standing on the right of the lad cueing the ball he was 15 years old then he is now 88 years old (2007) and served 46 years with the mail Ken Gibbins Messenger Boy Charles (Bob) Gibbins at the Messengers Institute Bird Street London W1
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:40:11 GMT
Talking of deliveries to weddings,and realising it was shortly after the war 1946, there were plenty on saturdays
We used to buy a carnation from the florist next door to our office ,Waltham Green London,called Nellie Warner which we wore on our tunics ,it went down well at the reception
I had many a photo taken handing the Telegram to the best man and received a few tips
In our delivery area were two football stadiums , Stamford Bridge Chelsea & Craven Cottage Fulham's ground
When they played at home we delivered dozens of telegrams & very often mingled with the players
After the war 1946 when food was still on ration rabbits were plentiful
People used to send them by 'E' Docket they were wrapped around the body with head and legs showing
We tied them to the handle bars and as we rode along the leadswood road as though they were still alive to the amusement of people passing by
Ken Gibbins
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:39:46 GMT
I joined the g.p.o.as it was then called in1964 as a telegram boy at threadneedle street post office .now part of the stock exchange.i was 15.we delivered telegrams in the city of london,and colected express items which could be for destinatons as far away as sussex.we were given fares of course! in thos days we were inspected every morning to make sure we were smart and that we were wearing our belt and telegram pouch.wo betide us if we wernt wearing when we was out in the street!I am still a postman working in leyton in east london, retiring in 2009.
Lester Powell
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:39:26 GMT
I Started as a telegram boy appox June 1954 Retired 1993 manger of REM UNIT AT CHELMSFORD. The next seven years I worked at run subpost offices
John Jenner
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:38:57 GMT
Trying to trace any memories or pictures of my father Daniel Heading of Brighton Sussex, born 1936
Theresa Sayers
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Post by Matt James on Apr 13, 2009 14:38:26 GMT
I was a "Telegram Boy" in 1947/48 at Finsbury Square and Throgmorton Street London EC ..anyone out there from that time still with us??
Steve Askham
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