Memories of morning post

It makes me think back to the good old days when one could rely on the dear old Post Office to deliver our mail early in the mornings, sometimes before we went to work or even got up.

Would you believe there was a time when a first class item posted before 4pm was guaranteeed to be delivered by 9am the next day?

Delivery officers had to sign out on leaving the office, and sign back on return. Anyone finishing later than 9am had to give a good explanation or else they’d be disciplined.

In those days - when the Post Office was run by people who had worked in the industry for many years and who came “from the ranks” - the early delivery was called the GP, or general post.

It was followed by a second morning delivery, The Elevens, and there was even an afternoon delivery, The Threes. Saturdays had a second delivery.

Gradually these were cut out until just the GP and Elevens were left. Then a few years ago “The Board” pulled its master stroke (or con, as I would call it) and said it was going to cut out the second delivery.

In fact, it was the GP that went, so that we now get our mail at anytime during the day. I’ve actually seen postmen delivering late into the afternoon.

So who’s to blame? In my opinion it’s not the postmen and women, who have seen their working conditions - not to mention pension rights - deteriorate.

It’s not the fault of the first and second line managers who are under extreme pressure to meet targets, or in other words, get the most from staff without paying overtime.

No, I lay the blame with the appointed personnel (not promoted from within the service) from universities and outside industries, none of whom have any idea or practical knowledge of how to run a public service.

With privatisation just around the corner, things can only get worse and we will find ourselves having to go to a central point to pick up our own mail.

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Bexhill-on-Sea