A credit to Crediton
Congratulations to Crediton postman, Allan Dendle, who celebrates an astounding 50 years’ service at Royal Mail this October.
‘Dickie’ as he’s affectionately known in the office started at Royal Mail in October 1970 as a telegram boy. His first role was as a ‘house boy,’ based at the Bedford Street Office in Exeter, taking the internal mail around to the office staff in the main Post Office.
‘In the meantime, due to having a full motorcycle driving license, I was delivering telegrams on the weekends,’ he said. ‘I then started doing a delivery in 1971 in Pennsylvania, this was a two-hour walk, where you had to wear your tie and hat at all times. The office would come out to check you were doing your job correctly.
‘I learned to drive at Royal Mail in 1973 for free. I passed on 3 May, with the condition that I stayed on as a driver for the next 12 months. I’ve been driving for the business ever since.
‘I used to do different sections on earlies, lates and nights working down at Exeter St David’s Station with the trains bringing in the mail. I would often start at 6am start and finish at 2pm. It was a semi-rural run, delivering to Exeter University campus, where at the time, there were porters in each building who delivered the post. Nowadays, it all goes to a central point.
‘I moved to a new office out at Sowton Industrial Estate in distribution and then to the brand new delivery office in Belgrave Road. I was based there for the next 44 years. When my job taken away due to lapsing, I got transferred to Crediton, where I’ve lived since 1985. During this time, I was also a firefighter for 33 years.
‘I think the highlight of my years at Royal Mail has been meeting different people across different backgrounds and being a respected part of society. I’m now really looking forward to retirement and especially, spending more time with the grandchildren.’
Ashley Hart, Crediton delivery office manager, said: ‘Allan has reached a fantastic 50-year milestone. He has a huge amount of experience in Royal Mail, having worked across different functions in the business, and listening to his stories really shows how much we have evolved.
‘Allan takes great pride in his job and he will be sorely missed by the customers he delivers to and his colleagues here at Crediton Delivery Office.
‘Allan takes with him a wealth of insight, knowledge and experience. He will be hard to replace, but we wish him all the best in his retirement.’
Congratulations to all our colleagues, who celebrate 40 or 50 years’ service in October.
50 years
- John Cole, London
40 years
- Karen Myers, Rochdale
- Richard Hogan, Wolverhampton
- Veronica Stevens, Scunthorpe
- Paul Brown, Swansea
- Mohamed Pangarker, Wembley
- Barry Northage, Hull
- Trevor Wilson, Nottingham
- Michael Dare, Taunton
- Paul Brayshaw, Torquay
- Ian Palfrey, Newton Abbott
- Paul Houghton, Plymouth
- Robert Brady, North Walsham
- Robert Hollands, Deal
- Gary Marshall, Plymouth
- Martin Footer, Plymouth
- Debbie Jones, Swansea
- Gordon Kirkwood, Glasgow
- John McClounan, Glasgow
- Martin Coote, Woking
- John Carr, Aylesbury
- Trevor Perkins, Tring
- Christopher Dawson, Didcot
- Andrew Budd, Worthing
- Arthur Gradwell, Wilmslow
- Paul Delaney, Ormskirk
- Gerard McCabe, Prescot
- William Milne, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
- Stephen Eglon, Newcastle
- Michael Burn, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
- Steven Anderson, Berwick-Upon-Tweed
- Gary Hutchinson, Wallsend
- David Andrews, Consett
- Robb Baldwin, Gateshead
- Iain Patterson, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
- Russell Craig, Newton Aycliffe
- Graeme Jenks, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
- Christopher Thompson, Hatfield
- Les Merison, Romford
- Paul Rose, Romford
- Chris Hamilton-Lea, Southampton
- Philip Watts, Baughurst
- D A Clapperton, Carlisle
- Michael Stevens, Whitehaven
- Christopher Somers, Horsham
- Michael Curtis, Caterham
- Marjorie Greenidge, London
- Jerome Collins, Mitcham
- Paul Gorvett, London
- Andrew Glass, London
- Lee Callcut, Romford
- Neil Clegg, Sheffield
- Ian Cynberg, London
- Paul Lebeau, Romford
- Steven Winter, Northampton
