A prince among men
Lymington postman Ian Prince is set to leave Royal Mail on Friday 24 July after a ‘wonderful’ 45 years with the business.
When Ian joined the company in 1975, Lymington outward vouching office (OVO), as it was known then, sorted mail to all over the country. In those days, the office was open 24-hours a day, seven days a week and run by three postmen higher grade (PHG), of which Ian was one.
Life as a postman was very different in the 70s. Some of the things Ian used to do then as part of his role that we’ll never see again include, delivering telegrams to weddings, having to wear his service cap for photographs, and clearing cash boxes from Post Office telephone boxes. He would also take to his trusty bike twice a day to deliver the post to customers in rural areas that are now served by vans.
When the 1980s arrived, Ian would meet the travelling Post Office (TPO) trains at Brockenhurst station. ‘One night the train didn’t stop so three of us jumped in the van and raced it to Bournemouth to intercept the mail, which we then sorted for that day’s delivery!’ he said.
‘Another time, I was helping a colleague load a mini-van with a large parcel, which turned out to be an inflatable rescue boat. The boat suddenly inflated and completely wrote the van off!’
Other memorable incidents that have stuck in Ian’s mind, include delivering mail in Sway on 15 October 1987, the day now known as the ‘Great Storm of 1987’ when the infamous hurricane caused him to ‘dodge falling trees and avoid roof slates flying across the roads.’
Ian was a PHG for 15 years and acting manager for three years, during which time, he won the ‘General Manager’s Award for Employee Excellence and Dedication to Duty.’ He also served as a postman in Milford-on-sea for 10 years.
‘Being a part of Royal Mail has never just been a job,’ he said. ‘It has been a way of life - a wonderful, rewarding and unique experience, which I would not have missed for the world!
‘It has done everything I wished for when I joined, and I have no regrets. It has truly been a wonderful working life!’
Lymington delivery office manager, Matthew Kerwood, said Ian will wear his old dress uniform from 40 years ago on the day he leaves.
‘Ian has the most fascinating stories to tell about his time with the business and is quite simply, the nicest man you could ever hope to meet,’ said Matthew. ‘The team have all said how much they will miss Ian, his gentle manner and his super sorting skills!
‘The unit will definitely be poorer for not having him here and he will be greatly missed by all of us.’
