I was barely sixteen still a schoolboy and had got my first real job working for the Post Office in Britain in 1951.
It was the Christmas rush and students were selected from certain schools and I struck lucky.
Us boys were assigned to parcel delivery and two or three of us would accompany the driver of a truck to deliver parcels and packages to happy households who received goodies from relatives and friends from all over Great Britain as well as the United States and other overseas countries.
It was obvious from the aroma that many parcels from Ireland contained foodstuff such as hams, other meats and cakes for lucky relatives that probably would not be permitted these days.
Britain was still slowly recovering from the Second World War and as the Republic of Ireland had been independent they were source of plenty for a lucky few.
Still at school the following year I managed to get the same job again but with my experience I was upgraded to Postman with bike and armband to show that I was official delivering letters right up to and including Christmas morning as the postal service then was the only means of communication for many in those days.
Image found at www.pinterest.com
A beautiful step back in time, Old Egg.
ReplyDeleteI have one friend, Old Egg who lives several states away who refuses to be on Facebook and only rarely uses email. We write actual paper letters back and forth, and I think I owe him one.
ReplyDeleteI tried to come UPwith the postal post, but could not. Good job!
ReplyDeleteCommunication was so. Mch different in trms of access that we now take for granted
ReplyDeleteSo many changes in the postal service since then. They were fortunate to have access to the food without regulations. Nice to read some history on this service.
ReplyDeleteDelivering parcels must be as much fun as delivering flowers for Valentine's Day as i used to do. It brings so many smiles!
ReplyDeletehow different the world, reality (of life) must of been at that time… the pace, the detail, the distances (that limited engagement) all very, very different.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post!! Coming from work tonight I received a birthday card from a dear friend. Letters, cards by snail mail are such a treat. I usually make myself a cuppa before sitting down to open the treasured envelope addressed to me.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, I like learning about your life.
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