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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 17:02:15 GMT
My name is Ralph I was a "mopper" from November 1948 to November 1951, when I enlisted in the R.A.F for two years! I was based at Spring Street B.O and Paddington D.O during that time. One of my duties was the station run every 10 minutes to collect telegrams from the Station B.O back to Spring Street for them to be sent on there way! Names that spring to mind are John Burton, Roy Paradise, Peter Mack, Bert Dowsall and Mr Ford. Hope someone reads this and remembers me!! I am now 74....
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 17:01:50 GMT
to all those little boys out there who trudged thru the the snow and sleet over the years to deliver Xmas greetings to the often ungrateful public, please accept this as my Xmas greeting card to you, bless you for your forgotten efforts and i wish you a very merry Xmas and, especially in these times of financial uncertainty , a very prosperous new year
you deserve it, your efforts are remembered in this tiny part of thailand, bless you all
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 17:01:28 GMT
Don.L.Marshall Birmingham 1940
In 1940, I was a 14 year old 'Wag' the nick name of the Birmingham based telegram messenger boys.
I was based at Yardley Post Office by the Swan public house on the Coventry Road near Birmingham. We covered Yardley-Stechford-Glebe Farm and Sheldon as far as Elmdon Airport, which was manned by the Fleet Air Arm, who trained pilots in Tiger Moth Biplanes .
Metro Cammell also used the airfield for testing the short Sterling Bombers they made . This made us quite busy and we were allowed one hour to get there and back to the office
From the age of knowing what an aeroplane was, I was obsessed with them and took every opportunity to go there to deliver telegrams. Time meant nothing to me as I made the delivery and watched the Tiger Moths taking off and landing
The ultimate pleasure was when a short Sterling was parked up nearby, revving up the engines, needless to say, my return to the office was usually late, and my excuse that I had got a puncture was not accepted for very long resulting in extra duty with out pay!
But it was worth it , at the age of 18, I was hooked and joined the RAF
DON. L.MARSHALL
(known as Hank Marshall)
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 17:01:03 GMT
fabulous photo's, i wish i still had mine, thanks for posting them _________________ paul girling
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 17:00:46 GMT
I was a telegram messenger boys in 1953 to 1955 at Rolf Street Sorting Office Smethwick nr Birmingham The photograpghs below were taken by Eric Spicer who later was a driver at Aston Delivery Office Jimmy Mullis standing whith his hand on my shoulder. The pipe smoker is Don Fitter who transferred to B.T. He had both an elder and younger brother who were at Smethwick, and then Brian Farrington who later left the Post Office This photo shows two messenger boys John Court who was a driver at Handsworth D.O. before transferring to Nuneaton and then me ( Trevor Spencer) This Photo shows Henry Lee (a PHG) who later was Inspector I/C Western D.O. then Brian Farrington John Court then me (Trevor Spencer) I wonder what happened to all those Teleprinter girls as they also used the youth club in Pinfold Street Birmingham Remembering those memories Kind Regards Trevor Spencer
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:59:30 GMT
Messenger Boy & YIT Stories.
Tony Fenwick. 1943--1946. London-Various locations
It was in August 1943 that I took up employment as a MGR; reporting to Finsbury Square Post office, near Moorgate in London. The Postman in charge of us messengers was Harry Kernott and two other names that I recall were Jeff Tee and Bob Orton. Bob and myself became quite good friends and often travelled to White Hart lane on a Saturday after work to watch the Spurs play. Jeff & Bob played an important role in our little office as they operated the pneumatic tube system that ran underground from CTO ( near St. Pauls ) and carried all the Telegrams that we had to deliver in our area; this covered Old St., Gt. Eastern St. and City Rd. among others. For those of you not familiar with technical details the tube was operated by compressed air which blew a cylindrical container containing the messages to us from CTO. or sucked the container back in an adjoining tube. I used to cycle to work daily and for a short time worked in King Edward building ,opposite CTO. and most of our deliveries from KEB were packages which went under the name of Express deliveries. All our tasks were carried out on foot except when we had a heavy parcel to deliver we were allowed to use a Taxi. Two other places I was sent to perform ?other tasks? was one in Euston Rd, opposite the Railway station; this was to make up dummy parcels for people training to become Counter Clerks, and two in an old country Mansion in Finchley. The latter was to operate a 10+50 switchboard and route calls through to a lot of Boffins in various rooms throughout the mansion. One of our tasks was to wait table at lunchtime for these Boffins-----we had our food after they had finished. The food prepared by the cook was excellent so we didn?t mind waiting till last, it usually meant more for us. I never did discover what these Boffins were working on it certainly was hush hush--well there was a war on. And this reminds me that during my MGR. days there was a guy called Hitler who was sending Doodle Bugs and Rockets ( V 2?s) to try and blow us all to kingdom come. At times it became a bit hairy in the City and if you were in the middle of a delivery when a raid started then one had to find a friendly wall to shelter by. On one occasion when I was en route to a road just past Moorfields eye hospital when I heard this tremendous explosion, it was one of these Rockets that had landed. When I reached my destination I was horrified to find half the street blown down. A warden stopped me and asked what address I was going to and when \I showed him the Telegram he said that the house was almost completely demolished and they were carrying bodies out on stretchers, so I advise you my lad he said to return to your office. I thought at the time what a blessing that it didn?t land on the hospital, but that was no consolation to the people that were hit of course. In spite of the War I enjoyed my working experience and met some nice workmates, it?s a pity that I can?t remember the names of some of them but apart from Bob who I mentioned earlier there was a lad by the name of Alan who I met at the Finchley mansion and who lived in the same street as myself in Tottenham, he was very friendly and was also a good piano player; that I discovered when we had our VE day street party. Well folks I was going to write about my time as a GPO engineer but I will leave it to another time----I?ve no wish to upset the Editor by writing too much. Regards to anyone who remembers me.
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:59:02 GMT
I was proceeding along Arthur Road Wimbledon about 6pm delivering telegrams in a thick green London Fog, visibility extended about one foot two and a half inches in front of the number plate, you get the picture, behind me were about ten cars the leader of which about two feet off my rear light, which was all he could see, I turned into a U gravel drive of a big posh house got off the bike and rang the bell,
The addresee said are they with you? the cars had all followed me in.
Maurice Nunn
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:58:31 GMT
Upper Tooting TDO was in Stapleton Road not far from Tooting Bec running track. One day a customer arrived with a problem -in his shorts! Could he send a 15 foot prototype green fibreglass pole vault pole to Parliment Hill Fields track in north London by post? Apparently the bus driver would not let him on neither would the London Underground allow it. Out came the PO Guide (the pole was by now laying on the floor in the BO) As the service V Express service had no size or weight limit we were obliged to accept it. BUT if a service V item was of such size or weight that it needed special conveyance i.e a lorry in this case then the customer had to pay for that as an extra (total cost at his own expence) then PO would supply a messenger to accompany it. Needless to say he had another problem - in his shorts - not enough money for a lorry.
So the valiant staff of moppers sprung into action when the O/C counter came in looking a bit up the pole. We managed it as a public relations exercise by walking it accross London two of our lads carried it to Batttersea then they walked it to West Brompton who in turn walked it to the next TDO and so on. When it finally arrived at Parliment Hill fields I would hope the lad was well chaulked up with a tip for it.
Moral here somewhere - If you want to be a pole vaulter buy a stretch limo first. Though I expect the new ones come to bits. Maurice Nunn
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:58:03 GMT
I had the priviledge of working as as Motor Cycle messenger at Upper Tooting TDO. I remember clearly the winter of 1959 when Flu struck and our staff was depleted, we worked 12 hour days the snow was a foot deep and serious drifts were everywhere. this turned to ice and we delivered telegrams in sub zero temperatures, many had messages from the senders saying "Unable to come owing to inclement weather", which at the time seemed a bit ironic, as we were expected to deliver them, but being young and a bit wild, we were willing to face the challenge. Our PSM's were of "the old school" Proud men who believed the Royal Mail must go through whatever. Our area covered Wimbledon,West Wimbledon, Balham and,Tooting during the week and on a Sunday Crown Point lads joined us to include cover to the whole of SE London with occasional runs out to Surrey and Sussex as needs required. Some of the lads were a bit wary of the snow and ice, so our PSM's proposed a volunteer only policy for Motor Cycle use. Needless to say 99% volunteers braved the elements. Who remembers the Carburettor seals ? The bikes were fitted with a non standard carburettor slide which was longer than the standard BSA fitting, the top of the carb was screwed down and drilled to take an anti tamper seal this restricted the speed - that is unless you were a bit mechanically minded and risked a P18B (skin) by either hacksawing the top of the slide to make it open further or substituting a standard BSA slide. then refitting the seal !!! as if we would....then pump up the tyres 10 lbs over standard to reduce road friction and increase rolling radius, unscrew the exhaust baffle and "loose" one putting it back, and a few other minor tweeks gave a top speed over the manufacturers standard, oh dear I seem to feel a touch of guilt, but it was great fun. We begged or borrowed the old style crash helmets (with the separate peak), as the Everoak was not in favour with John Surtees and Geof Duke ! We wore P Coats stuffed with newspaper and a leather gerkin, ditched the "official boots" in favour of "Don R" Ex WD despatch riders boots, purchased out of our own pocket from Government Surplus shops (remember them) the boots were knee length leather with three straps, and offered much better protection when we frequently fell off. Stadium Mk 1X goggles were also bought as the official issue were plastic and scratched easily. Both PSM's were strict on Shiny boots, shiny brass,and sharp creases in trousers. We had to iron the creases in our trousers by rubbing soap inside to hold the creases. But this was not the best answer as we frequently got soaked and when you took off your itchy blue serge trousers you found that you had blue legs where the dye came out and no creases. Luckily the wife of one of our PSM's (The late George Surrey) came up with the answer she sewed the creases in for us. If we turned up for work scruffy we would be sent home and loose pay, such was the discipline, lacking so much now.We wore would you believe white shirts with separate starched collars and black ties. The thick fogs in London at that time were real green pea soupers, and shirts looked a bit grey by the end of the shifts. The blue dye from the uniform used to stain the cotton shirts that had to be bleached every wash . I lived with my father then after mum divorced and spend many a night washing and ironing to maintain the high standard set by the PSM's. The official gloves were rubbish so we bought our own gauntlets from WD shops. Dave Maney PSM had the brilliant idea of providing us with a copious supply of "Mopper Soup" he obtained a galvanised steel baby bath, possibly his sons, which was installed on top of our 4 burner gas stove, we went out begging bones from the local butcher, carrots, onions, potatos, and anything else barring Brasso that we could plonk in, I recall one day the inclusion in the soup of a belt and pouch complete with T16B and T35b forms (for added zest!) we would return from runs out frozen to the point where we could hardly get off the bikes, we would sit baling mug fulls of soup out of the bath, sitting with our feet in the open gas oven to thaw out, I will never forget the smell of hot wet leather boots. Thats all for now, I hope it stirred some of your memories,
Best regards,
Maurice Nunn
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:57:30 GMT
o you remember how we spotted each other in the dark ? - By the showers of sparks from the leg shields lighting up the night air.
Then there were the practical jokes, how we undid the three screws on the timing cover to make our mates engines run backwards.
One day someone swapped over the clutch and brake cables on my bike outside the office, as usual I jumped on started up and pulled on the clutch lever ( which unbeknown to me now very loosely operated the front brake) revved up on the stand at right angles to the kerb plonked it in gear and promptly sailed straight off the stand into a cart load of flowers belonging to a flower seller called Joyce outside Upper Tooting TDO. So can I claim a Bantam wheely I never did find the culprit.
Finally another memory, I had overtook a line of cars at Tooting Broadway traffic lights, there I was between the stop line and the traffic island waiting for the green light to change, When it did I was away like a horizontally launched moon rocket only to hear a squeal from behind. Looking back I had a ladies summer dress flying from my right pannier, there was a rather red faced young lady standing on the island in her bra , panties and stocking tops (remember them?) just as the crowds were coming out of the tube station. Ooops,
Maurice nunn
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:57:09 GMT
Looking back, it is a wonder some of us are still here, I had my fair share of accidents on PO motorbikes, One in particular springs to mind, I was riding alond a wet Haydons road Wimbledon as usual try to get the speedo round the clock for the second time (not helped by the D shape dial!) when a British School of Motoring learner driver leapt out in front of me like a kangeroo with a hot poker in its nether regions from the junction of Penrith Road needless to say I felt the dull crunch of impact as the front wheel crushed the leg shields, by which time I was airborn in what seemed like slow motion, landing not too gracefully in the doorway of the Blue Cross Dumb Friends league shop. The saga did not end there, the driver of the car was deaf and dumb, the mind boggles to this day how the poor chap was supposed to hear the instructors voice. The instructor had the good grace to admit liability on behalf of the driver.
Then there was the classic , wet day Colliers Wood High St. I was too close behind a bus (to keep warm and dry) looking to my right at the prices of motorbikes in Abbey Spares motorcycle shop. Whereupon the bus decided to stop at a crossing I sailed straight into the back of it - my fault. Another mopper, I think it was Ray Timpson was sent to relieve me of remaining telegrams, in true style he beat the ambulance to the scene of the accident. There were Road Works between him and me, I saw him speeding along towards me, suddenly he disappeared motorbike as well. The next thing I saw was him scrambling out of the clay filled ditch being chased by two road men with big shovels, we all had a good laugh about it later .
Another day, another lad overtook a line of traffic waiting for the level crossing to open in Merton High St Wimbledon - hit the wet metal studs and drove his front number plate up the rear end of a Policeman on point duty. Ouch
We must have been attracted to the police as a few days later I managed to crash into the back of a "Black Maria" police van taking prisoners to Wandsworth I remember seeing the prisoners noses stuck to the rear glass windows watching me, as my foot got run over by a van going the other way. They thought that great fun, the down side was the black big toe nail I suffered which was later to be impaled with a red hot needle at St.James hospital to relieve the pressure....ouch.
Then there was the time in Beechcroft road Tooting - a garden gate opened to my left a dog ran out straight into my front wheel, I went over the top - again, and knocked over a sapling roadside tree planted by the kerb. Weeks later a letter arrived from the Forestry commission giving Ordnance survey grid references of the siting of their pathetic little tree which they apparently had control of, asking me to clarify the damage I had caused to it. I was more upset about the dog.
Do you remember any ? My God how we suffered serving the Queen
Maurice Nunn
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:56:44 GMT
I was a wag from 1949 to 1952. I have searched your website but could not connect any of the faces with my years as a messenger boy.or due to age have now passed on. I worked at Head office first and then went to Moseley PO and sometimes at Sparkhill. I then worked at Selly Oak on the Motor bikes. We had Bantams but I was better off because I rode the better 250cc bike. It was governed but not very often ( only when the mechanics came to service the bike ). Photograph enclosed ( taken at Selly oak ). All the best with future events. Len Rees.
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:56:21 GMT
My name is Trevor Spencer and I was a Telegam boy from December 1953 until I went into the forces September 1955
After initially walking the streets of the City Centre the rest of my time was spent as a motor cyclist at Rolfe Street Smethwick Birmingham
I have seen the photographs from the 2007 reunion which brought back memories of many of my former friends who I have not seen since I retired in 1991
Regards Trevor Spencer
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:55:57 GMT
I was one of the first ten telegram boys to ride out of Garrison Lane PO Garage on a BSA 250cc. It was June 1948 After a few days training half of us were sent to Selly Oak and the other half to Smethwick. We had these BSA 250's until I went into the RAF two years later. There was talk of something called a Bantam, no idea what it was! At Selly Oak our boss was a Mr Trotter and he looked after us like a father. I can only remember the name of one of the other "Mod Kids" and that was Johny Rutter, but I would love to hear from anyone from the BSA 250 days at Selly Oak
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Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 16:55:28 GMT
I started service in Battersea DO in 1959 as a mopper, then went on Motorcycles at Upper Tooting at 16 - Serial Numbers of memorable bikes were T5189 (on which I gained the day mileage record delivering telegrams of 189 miles in a day) and got a P18 two days later for alleged excessive speed! other serials were,T5222,T3957,and T4202. Names I remember were Dave Maney PSM, and George Surrey PSM, Moppers, Kevin Massey, Gary Langley, Ray Timpson,Roy Parkes, Geof Young, Arthur English,George Forman,Keith Slater,Pat Ames,Billy Ridgers, Ding Dong Bell the cleaner,and Margie Gras Telegraphist. Following being a Postman driver at Putney SDO, I became a PSM at the age of 21 at "Royal Office" SWDO, in charge of 35 Telegram boys, I also served as PSM at Sth. Kensington, West Brompton, and The House of Commons. Later becoming YPSS overseer.At the demise of the telegram service I went to the London Postal School as an Instructor for three terms of three years, then Assistant Inspector NDO, Then moved to the sales force as a PSR I retired as an Account Manager on the sales force.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the people I came into contact with for making my service over the years full of very happy memories. In particular Dave Maney PSM whose guidance leadership and fair discipline standards provided me with a role model in my younger days on how to manage staff I never forgot his mantra Firm,Fair,Friendly. I also would like to thank all the Telegram boys I had the pleasure to manage, and later teach at the London Postal School. Best regards to you all, Maurice Nunn
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