Post Office: Proud that four generations of family worked for the Post Office

(Redirected from Proud that four generations of family worked for the Post Office)

Seven members of the Hanson family, spread over four generations, have between them worked for the Post Office in Derby for more than 100 years. Tom Hanson, 87, of Chaddesden, traces his family’s involvement with the organisation from when his father first joined in 1933 to the present day. It was, he says, a privilege to be a Post Office employee and a job he always loved.

Family affair: Thomas Hanson Snr, a postman from 1933-50, with Tom Jnr, who served from 1950-81, Tom’s sister, Joyce, and his mother pictured in the 1920s

Tom in his van

IN the old days, it was a privilege to work for the Post Office. We had full employment until we were 60 or 65. We were provided with uniforms; we were paid for our holidays; we were paid when we were on sick leave.

The work was very interesting and most of us were happy workers. The inspectors at the Post Office were all ex-servicemen. They each knew their jobs and were respected by all of the staff.

One of the inspectors who comes to mind was Mr Chetwin or Chetty, as we called him. We all held him in awe.

At Christmas time, the delivery room was decorated and music was laid on. It was a very happy time for us all.

All the staff on walking duties had three or four temps. We prepared the deliveries and the temps did them. At that time, we did one delivery on Christmas Day, so we had very little time at home.

My father, Thomas Hanson Snr, was an “old soldier”. He served 21 years in the Seaforth Highlanders, becoming a postman in 1933. He enjoyed the regular days. His delivery was in the Victory Road area. After he had completed his delivery, he would help all of the children to cross the road, on their way to school.

He was an athlete and played football for the Post Office. Sadly, he died from cancer in 1950, after 17 years as a postman.

I started working as a postman the year he died. When I had been on walking duties for a few months, I decided to have a change and started working as a mail porter on Derby Station.

My job was to receive the mail from incoming trains, and also to dispatch mail.

Though it was very interesting, I decided to try my hand at driving duties. I passed my driving test at my second try.

My first job was door-to- door on Morley Road, Chaddesden. The people on Morley Road were very friendly. One man said that he could set his clocks by me.

In all the years that I worked for the Post Office, I was never late. I tried to keep to my schedule. In those days, we did two deliveries a day and were paid overtime for what was called “abnormals”.

When I had been delivering on Morley Road for 16 years, I changed my job. I did the second delivery to Kegworth. I thought this job was great. I loved it. In the evening, on my way back to the office, I had to pick up mail bags.

I was branch chairman during the 1970s strike. I really thought we were doing the right thing. We were on strike for seven weeks and gained nothing.

I have done a lot of thinking since then and have come to the conclusion that it is better for both parties to sit down and thrash things out.

I retired in 1981 after 31 years’ service. I often think of all the happy years that I spent with the Post Office.

My son, Peter, started with the Post Office, at the age of 15, as a messenger boy. His work was to deliver telegrams on his 125cc motorbike.

One evening, when he was 16, I had a visit from the police, who told me that he had been involved in a bad accident.

He had been riding down Stenson Road when he was in collision with a stationary van at the bottom of Stenson Road. He fractured his pelvis. He had an operation but he was left with a bad limp and had to have one boot built up.

The job he picked, when he was well enough, was delivering on Morley Road. He wanted to work with his dad. He did a week of days on Morley Road, then an afternoon shift and the following week I did the delivery.

We worked together for a few years. Then he decided to go a step up, so he became a postman higher grade. This meant sorting inside, all the time.

After a few years of shift work as a postman higher grade, he decided to work on regular nights, which he did until he retired at the age of 60.

He had served the Post Office for 45 years. Since his retirement, he has had another operation and been given a new hip.

My other son, Tom, also became a messenger, delivering telegrams. But he soon tired of this and passed an exam to become a counter clerk at Lichfield. To travel to work, he had to use a 50cc Honda moped.

It was very difficult to get to work, in the winter, as it is 25 miles to Lichfield.

Eventually, he left the Post Office and found himself a job with Courtaulds as an accountant. He stayed there for 25 years, retiring at 57. He now enjoys life on his allotment.

My brother, Arthur, also worked as a messenger. He delivered telegrams on a bicycle until he left to join the Royal Marines.

My grandson, Bret Hanson, still works for the Post Office, as does my nephew Teddy Boole.

Between us all, in total, the Hanson family has worked for the Post Office for more than 100 years. I am 87 and am still enjoying life to the full.

Pages linking here