Heaven sent

Seven-year-old Jase Hyndman, from Bathgate in Scotland, did not expect a reply when he sent a birthday card to his dad who died four years ago.

But little did he know about Bathgate assistant delivery office manager Sean Milligan’s advanced navigation skills and much-admired ability to avoid ‘stars and other galactic objects’.

After posting the card, addressed simply to his dad ‘in heaven’, with the message, 'Mr Postman can you take this to heaven for my dad's birthday thanks,' the little boy was thrilled to receive a written response from Sean shortly afterwards telling him that his card had been 'delivered safely'.

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Sean’s letter read: 'Dear Jase, I just wanted to take the opportunity to contact you about how we succeeded in the delivery of your letter to your dad in heaven.

'This was a difficult challenge avoiding stars and other galactic objects en route to heaven. However please be assured that this particularly important item of mail has been delivered. Royal Mail's priority is to get our customers' mail delivered safely.

'I know how important your mail is to you. I will continue to do all I can to ensure delivery to heaven safely.'

In a Facebook post, which has now gone viral with more than 160,000 likes, 210,000 shares and more than 40,000 comments, including: ‘Awhh this is amazing. Well done Royal Mail. Hopefully, this has brought many smiles to his little face. Bless him and bless his dad in heaven’, Jase’s mum, Teri Copland, thanked Royal Mail for taking the time to send the letter.

'I actually cannot state how emotional he is knowing his dad got his card,’ she said. ‘You didn't have to make the effort to do this, you could have just ignored it, but the fact that you have made the effort for a little boy you've never met is such a lovely thing to do.

'Royal Mail you've just restored my faith in humanity and thank you, it honestly means the world to him. Please share this so all the staff at Royal Mail know just how grateful we are. Thanks and Merry Christmas x.'

‘Keeping this little fellow’s dreams alive was important not only to me but also to postman, Colin McPhillips, who approached me about Jase’s letter, which had been returned to the office,’ said Sean. ‘I would like to thank all the team at Bathgate delivery office for their excellent work in our community. Postmen and women in every delivery office are invaluable when integrating with the communities we serve. Without the compassion of Colin, this would have been a totally different story. Our business and our brand would have failed a little boy’s hopes and dreams.’

Field operations director, Delivery, Geoff Braden said: ‘This is a truly heartening example of a manager going above and beyond in order to create a very special experience for a little boy. Well done, Sean.’