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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:53:53 GMT
Originally posted by Woodie
Electra house brings back memories, Now demolished and a new building not PO relacing it. In my day it was still Cable & Wireless that had been taken over by the GPO. The messengers were all adults ie; over 18 they wore a similar uniform to the Postmen of the day , however instead of 2 thin red pipeing stripes on their cap they had one wide red one., also their pouch was not around their waist but shoulder slung and larger more like a Military Musicians pouch.
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:53:25 GMT
Originally posted by brianwalsh2
I started at Ubridge GPO as then, in 1956 as a telegram boy Mopper/Young Postman however Wag not known, I went from telegram boy in 1959 to Postman duties worked my way up to assistant Inspector.
Then in 1974 transfered to Peterborough and downgraded to PHG was promoted to PED in 1977 and moved on to be in charge of Spalding office in Lincolnshire took early retirement in 1993 with 37 years service.
Brian Walsh
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:52:45 GMT
Originally posted by Postpat96
i started as a telegram boy in 1967 in london .the place i worked was called electra house at temple bar .we cover places like the strand and fleet street main customers were the dailt newspapers,and the hotels from blackfriars to westminister.we used the underground trains and buses to get around there were 2 or 3 motor cycles as well .i worked there for about 11 years .i transfered to peterborough in 1978 and they asked me to do the telegram office delivery there.which i did on a week on week off ,mean i did telegram delivery one week the other idid a rural delivery.when they finish the telegram service i continued to do the rural delivery service and have been doing the same job for the last 28 years.i still keep in touch with some of the colleges from london but some have pass on and some have moved away.it would be good if anyone who remembers me to get in touch
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:51:59 GMT
Originally posted by Roger Green
Hi, Roger. As you can see from my details, I'm a bit far away for reunions. I did attend on back in Bristol in the early eighties, I just happened to be in UK at the time having emigrated to New Zealand in 1973. The information was passed to me via e mail. I ended my UK service with the PO in the Telegraph Delivery, Bristol in 1973 Regards Harry Challis
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:50:45 GMT
Originally posted by Woodie
I remember you well, I retired 1992 from Nine Elms, my daughter who commenced in 1988 is still there although hanging on by her fingernails.Are you serious re your question? I have 3 youngsters serving Daughter, Son, Son in Law this is not the place for politics , but you and I would not last 5 mins the way they are treated today. Guvnors respected the staff, The staff respected the Guvnor,in our time The PO of today just reflects the Country as a whole. I'll leave it there.
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:50:16 GMT
Originally posted by Roger Green
Hi Roger, just received the courier, and got your address. I was a telegram boy,started at Leicester Square in the centre of London WC in 1948 delivering to all the London stage doors and all the bookmakers in W1, great days, I then transferred to the SW Dist. and worked in Sth.Kensington and Chelsea when the Kings Road was a place to be. At the Sth.Ken Office we had 40 messenger boys and we rode push bikes. Leicester square we had to walk, it was considered to dangerous to ride in the west end of London. It was not long after the war when I joined so I did not have to carry a gas mask around with me. We had a drinking chocolate supplied by the USA called namco to supplement our food as rationing was still on. Moving on, I went from being a messenger to being renamed Young Postman. At 18, into the SWDO with a delivery in the Knightsbridge area, then National Service. 1950/52 I then went PHG and for ten years I supervised the Young Postmen in the House of Commons and I was a PSM at Sth Kensington. Yes I used to have the lads on parade each morning for an inspection to make sure they were clean and presentable Went into the Sth Kensington SDO as a Assistant Inspector, to SWDO as an Inspector, and the Chief Inspector SWDO. Managed to take early retirement in 1988 aged 56 and have been retired and enjoying every minute.
What ever happened to our wonderful POST OFFICE?
Derek
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:49:28 GMT
Originally posted by WoodieUptill 1948 the publis could actually pst an human being, don't ask where the stamp was put, it was adherred to a Form E the public would pay 6d per mile. Why? if you arrived in a strange town you went into the nearest PO paid your fee, and a Young Messenger would take you to your destination, if it were a long distance it was carried out bt a Postman driver in an official van. We carried out a lot of Railex packets from South West DO London a package could be delivered the same day anywhere were the was a Railway Station. The accepting boy would take it to a Station say Kings Cross hand it to the guard of atrain, receive asignature, at the destination another lad would accept from the Guard and deliver it. Another GPO service was shopping for the public usual cost between 6d and 1/- and taking Dogs for walks around the local park for the same charge, Mine was a Scottie Dog belonging to Andrew Cruikshank of Dr Finlays case book. Interflora was another service Wreaths and Boquets were delivered by PO messenger . I had a boquet for the Maternity Ward Barts Hospital as I entered the ward 30 odd female eyes watched me a 14 year old seeing all these ladies sitting up in BED i soon went as Red as the pipeing in my uniform. We wore boots similar to Army boots with studs, the ward floor was highly polished wood suddenly they parted company I ended up under one bed the flowers under another. The ward erupted into laughter and at least one young Mum had her baby early. Another "SKIN" P18b 2 Please Explain Why ?? Come on you all must have had one!
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:48:28 GMT
Originally posted by Bidstonhall
hi everyone just discovered the site from the express article, what a fantastic site, am so pleased to be here
great to see some of the boys described as hero's, we were known as bloody hooligans at the time
i was a tally boy, as we were called, in liverpool 1967-1968 at LNTDO liverpool north telegraph delivery office
am so pleased to see woody is a member, i have a copy of his article in classic bike some years ago which had some great photo's
i myself own 2 B175's from 1971 on j plates, one from my old office LNTDO and 1 from our other office LSTDO liverpool south telegraph delivery office
i live semi retired in thailand now but have 1 bike on display at the transport museum in birkenhead, will send some pics when i find out how to do it
i got my bikes from the great john lawrence, an old messenger boy from barrow in furness who has rescued about 30 bikes from the scrapheap, god bless you john, and used both of them daily up until a few years ago when i moved here
does every know about the old movie from 1963 which is about a group of messenger boys forming a pop group, david hemmings stars in it with steve marriott who went on to form the small faces,and heinz, some great scenes of the boys on bikes throughout the movie, i watch it every few months, its called Live It Up fabulous movie
would love to hear from anyone who worked at liverpools 2 offices or birkenhead where i did my training, many thanks
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:47:43 GMT
Originally posted by Roger Green
Hi In reply to the article in the November Unite, you may or may not remember me I started work as I boy messenger in December 1950 in Pinfold St. Subsequently retiring in 1991 and moved out of the West Midlands to a little village in Norfolk. I am in contact each week with Eric Goodwin by telephone and received e-mails from Dave Jones. However I would be delighted if anyone wished to contacted me, as I have little contact with dear old Bham.
Brian Fitzmaurice
e-mail brian@brytisha.co.uk
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:43:02 GMT
Originally posted by Roger GreenPerhaps I should introduce myself not sure really what to do as a New BOY. I left school as we did at 14 became a Messanger at South Western District Office London SW1 Sorry Roger my family has compleated close on 300 years Postal Service we have never heard the term WAGS , in London we were MOPPERS a Telegram was a mop. I retired from Royal Mail in 1992 compleating the 40 years service. Followed on my Daughter , Son, & Son In Law. Once one retires keep the brain box busy so self taught myself welding spraying etc. Restored a Bantam D175 one of the last Bantams in service at Croydon, this was followed by restoring a Morris 50 cu ft Mail Van from Leamington Spa then another Bantam Brighton,& 2 Puchs plus about 5 PO push bikes. The van has taken part in the Queens Jubilee parade , Lord Mayors Show, & New years day Parade, and travelled up the M1 to a place called Birmingham in 1995 towing a trailer with a Bantam aboard to take part in Birminghams Motorcycle Parade the van was kindly garaged by Royal Mail Birmingham in some arches near the HPO>. She has been in numerious films , Travelled to South of France, Holland Rhine Valley Spain & Gibraltar where the Gibraltan PO treated us like Lords all to wave the British & Royal Mail Flags who were not interested. Last week the van ,Bantam on a trailer & yours truely did a tour of the Ardennes , Luxembourg, Belgium , Mosel Valley, not bad with our combined ages of 150 years.I also tour the South of England doing slide talks to Schools , Transport Clubs & OAP clubs on the heyday of the GPO ie. 1900 /1969 . I'll try an attached some photos I hope they may be of interest you. Good on yer starting up this site if I ever find me way in .Kind Regards Paul Wood retd 2396 SW Mopper
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:40:56 GMT
Originally posted by Roger Green
My father-in-law was a telegram boy in Nuneaton befor the last war and started work in 1926, he is now 95 years old and would like to know if any of his co-workers still survive to-day. He can be reached though me at this address
fieldgunner1@googlemail.com
many thanks D.K.Gordon. Son-in-law.
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:40:05 GMT
Originally posted by Roger Green
I was a messenger at head office- hill st from 1934 till 1938 when I became an SC&T.in navy for next 5 years. Went to ministry of Food in 49 I live in POOLE been retired 27 years. Did a spell on Midland TPO after war Bham - Newcastle. Would love to have news from you - any messengers I would know stillaround?
I was born in Brum and spent my first 30 years living there joining the Post Office in 1934 as a messenger until I moved to the sorting office in 38. SC&T until war broke out when I spent the next 5 years in the Navy. On rejoining the PO in 46 I did a spell on the Midland TPO With reorganisation I became a P & TO and did counter duties at Moseley, Small Heath, and Head Office Vic Square. Ihad taken the reconstrucyion exams and got a tyresury grade clerical officer in the Min of Food in Gt Charles St.. Its a long story I am 87 and nearing my sell by date - HAve prostate cancer and heart trouble. Please excuse meif I dont go on but am very tired-9pm. I wonder if any of your club members remember me ? Would like to hear from you
Cheerio Fred Checkett
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:38:38 GMT
Originally posted by Roger Green
Good day,
I was reading your article in the courier which my father gets as he is retired now. All of our family have been in the post office but i was a telegram boy or messenger boy or mopper when i left school. I started the day after my 15th birthday on 22nd august 1966 and went to south west district office to get measured up for my uniform. I spent a few weeks there and then went to south kensington where i delivered telegrams around kensington and chelsea in the 60's it was a brilliant time and one i will never forget. I got to meet lots of stars both pop and tv and film star's in that time. After a year or so i was picked to work either in buckingham palace or the houses of parliament so i chose the houses of parliament as i had a friend there called michael lunnis. I also enjoyed that period as i delivered telegrams to the prime minister in 10 downing street and had to make daily visit's to the post master general's office in the city with a special pouch. We had a special uniform with a badge which denoted Gpo - houses of parliament on our uniforms. But one memorable story was that in the house they had a hair dressers and certain times of the day it was for the workers and the rest of the day for the members of parliament. I was having my hair cut at around 12 o'clock noon when the prime minister of england (harold wilson) came in and had to wait for me to be finished. I have some wonderful memories of that period and now i am 56 years old and look back fondly of this time. We had a telegraph operator there called ken vanstone who talked me into going to the telegraph school in the city and after that became a telegraphist which i also enjoyed very much.
Hope you enjoy my little insight into my times as a mopper.
Regards, John Wilde bournemouth
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Post by Matt James on Apr 9, 2009 12:37:42 GMT
Originally posted by Roger GreenOn 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 9, 2009 12:36:32 GMT
Originally posted by Cofi
Started at the age of 14 as messenger boy in Caernarfon North Wales from 1947 to 1951-Postman driver and acting PHG from 1951 to 1957.Moved to Newport South Wales in 1957 as PHG and finished in 1987 as Asst Head Postmaster due to heart trouble.
I was only 4ft 8in when I started and had to have a small bicycle which took a few days to come from the main store and therefore delivered telegrams by bus.
In a small office like Caernarfon, which then only had 9 town deliveries, as a PHG I would do everything ie; hand out LB keys-enter register receipts-business replies-HVPs-tick in the mail-and in the morning I would also clear the head office box sort the mail and jump on the bike to take a bag to the station for Chester which contained mostly the misssorts received in the morning mail.
You can imagine my surprise when I came to Newport to find the PHGs did just one job.One on the tick job-one in the register den for town and one for outward.
My hobbies are golf and computer.I do websites and you will see most of them in the WWW below.
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