End of an era

One of the last postwomen to still be doing her round on two wheels has finally hung up her bicycle clips.

After 25 years of pedalling up to eight-and-a-half miles a day, Anne Hourston has decided to retire at the age of 65.

Anne originally took the job, on the island of Flotta off the north coast of Scotland, only because the regular postman was sick.

‘I can’t drive, so I did the round on my bike,’ she told the Daily Record. ‘I’ve only ever used one gear. Over the years, I’ve had three bikes – the last one is quite old and heavy. I’ve had it years and it’s going to the local museum.’

Kirkwall delivery office manager Charlie Alway said internet shopping had caused the move from bikes to vans in 2012: ‘Although the advent of emails and internet shopping has seen our mailbag necessitate the move from bikes to vans, Anne’s determination to serve the folk of Flotta in a job she has enjoyed, meant with the help of Flotta colleagues, we were only too happy to make her the exception to the rule.

‘In many ways, this is the end of an era in Orkney.’