Who We Are – Robert

Coleraine postman, Robert Ramsey MBE, retired on Saturday 12 September after 40 glorious years of service.

Our Who We Are campaign celebrates our key workers - connecting communities, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic – and beyond as well. Over the coming months, we’ll be recognising people at the heart of our business, across the pipeline, as they describe who they are in their own words.

We want to receive nominations from around the Group for deserving colleagues to be recognised in this way. Send yours to groupcommunications@royalmail.com.

Look out for coverage of Who We Are on RMtv, in Courier, your unit’s tv screens and, of course, here on myroyalmail.com.

Robert started his career at Royal Mail in November 1980 and completed his first 13 years covering various duties. Then in 1993, Robert’s future father-in-law, who was also a postman, was made redundant after 44 years. He approached his delivery office manager and asked if he was to retire, whether could Robert take over his position delivering to Castlerock in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

This was agreed, and from then on, Robert began faithfully serving the residents of the seaside village, a round he remained on for the next 27 years.

During this time, Robert has managed the Post Office football team, winning several trophies and going on to represent Northern Ireland in England and Scotland. He has also managed a very successful darts team, organised innumerable charity fundraising events, including ‘many a van push,’ school visits, and Christmas parties for the children of colleagues past and present.

In 1995, he was awarded Postman of the Year. And in 1997, he received an MBE for services to Royal Mail and schools and youth football in Northern Ireland.

Coleraine delivery line manager, Alan Carson, said: ‘Robert, or “Rab” as he’s affectionately known, is a bit of a local celebrity as he’s done the pantomime here in Coleraine for many years and earned his MBE for all the work he’s done for charity. 

‘Having delivered to the same area on the north coast of Northern Ireland for so long, Rab’s customers rightly, think very highly of him and have been putting posters up on lamp-posts and in the community centre window to thank him for his remarkable service.’

Robert was a member of the ‘Provincial Players,’ a local drama group in Coleraine for over 30 years. ‘I started off as a bit player progressing to writing/producing and finally chairman,’ he said. ‘I also acted, performing to packed houses, where we would often see four or five thousand people through the doors every year.

‘Delivering in Castlerock for 27 years has been something special. My wife Hilary is originally from Castlerock. Her father was a postman for 44 years and in fact, it was his job I got when he retired.

‘I’m a member of Castlerock Golf Club, so Castlerock is in my veins. It’s a lovely little village with equally lovely people residing there. I’ll miss doing this job, but no doubt, our paths will cross again.’