Postman's Knock

An Oral History Documentary exploring the working lives of London's postal workers.
Project website: www.onthepost.org.uk
Production company website: www.digital-works.co.uk

[@alanperry1804]

Recently retired after 45 years,great times way back+still are some special people in the job,these people i miss.But the job itself has been ruined by privatisation,greed, mismanagement to the point tho I never thought I'd say it I'm glad to be out

[@silondon9010]

Terrible job in 2024😢 unfortunately

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

​@@silondon9010agreed, it's a pressure cooker. I've only been in it for 6 months, and I'm already planning to leave.

[@aitormolinerobozas-urrutia2465]

@@DrumToTheBassWoop Is hard in 2024?

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

@@aitormolinerobozas-urrutia2465 yep, I left 2 months ago. 😂

[@terrybutler1231]

BBC it’s just the same I’m afraid. 😢. So pleased now to be out.

[@OllieRamone]

I love this documentary. I’m a mailman in the US and I enjoyed listening to the stories from these posties who worked for the Royal Mail.

[@puppets.and.muppets]

its a small world you live in gramps....

[@GizmoDuck_1860]

Hello, Postie from across the Pond. Well met. From one Postie to another I tip my hat.

[@OllieRamone]

@@puppets.and.muppetsI’m only 40

[@OllieRamone]

@@GizmoDuck_1860I tip my hat in return 😀

[@OllieRamone]

@@GizmoDuck_1860 😀

[@eifionhughes2707]

Medically retired after 25 years. Started as a postman in 1977 then promoted to PHG followed by Assistant Inspector and finally an Inspector. Last i heard the inspectors job description is now Delivery Office Manager. I was Delivery Office Manager at Barnet Sorting Office and I covered Potters Bar office when required. Great job which I found easy to fit into having served in The Welsh Guards. I wouldn’t change any of it. Great bunch of lads and ladies to work with. Start 0500 finish 1210 and 0930 on a Sat.👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@tomloader2802]

hammer have you got anything from mike tyson to me 29

[@tomloader2802]

can you collect brown from carl go to the doctors boots city centre nr21sh and bring me 3z if your with mike tyson

[@puppets.and.muppets]

did you get the sack ?

[@tsoliot5913]

0500-1210, 7 hours and 10 minutes? You get a lunch with that?

[@vinnieleader]

Another beautiful and well presented documentary. I'm a London BusDriver and have been for over 25 years and watching, especially this one about our Postal workers, makes me proud to be part of a network of essential services.

[@Nykona-Sharrowkyn]

I spent 19 years working with Royal Mail, it was the best job I ever had, the people I met were a wonderful mix of people from around the world, wish I was still there

[@silondon9010]

It's terrible now

[@lonetobefree5722]

It's worse than terrible now

[@hebicat]

The quality of these Digitalworks documentaries is very professorial. They are entertaining, educational and an excellent grass root history of London - they are in fact, the voice of the work place.

[@papaherms63]

1982 I joined , what a great group of people I’ve worked with over 40 years. Genuine people with done the job bosses. All had been a postman so knew the job. Today I’m afraid the job has gone as far as managers is concerned. It’s a real shame. Wonderful video thank you 👍

[@mrwan7010]

Thanks for the upload. I did 2003 - 2009 in a delivery office on the south coast. I think it was the last Golden Era. We went from 6 days to 5 days. We went from 5am to 6.15am starts. We went from standard 8 hours days to job and finish. We also still had bikes. It was brilliant. I wouldn't fancy working there now though.

[@trevorcourtney7457]

Started in April 1978 at Alfred Gelder Street, Hull. Left in June 1993. Great people. Yeah, it was a family, absolute nutters all of 'em. Fondly remembered. I was a PHG when I left. Great days.:)

[@stevemacarenhas8701]

I work for Royal Mail since 1996. This video provides a great insight into the working of Royal Mail. Well done!

[@silondon9010]

The job is finished now under Simon Thompson

[@silondon9010]

Royal mail now being destroyed by Simon Thompson CEO

[@TheEcholima07]

The stopping of people moving up the ranks annoys me. From what I’ve experienced on the buses. University graduate schemes direct to management, produce ineffective managers. Students straight out of university, that have no clue how to do the job or manage a unionised workplace. They end up causing more conflict quite often.

[@danielrussell446]

I worked for Royal Mail in the West Midlands at Brierley Hill DO 1995-2002 my dad was a postman for over 30 years and rose up to delivery office manager and then sector manager before he retired and my mom brothers and cousins all worked at Brierley Hill DO so a family affair I can agree with much what was said here it was a great place to work with great conditions but was physical work and harder than people imagined you certainly earned your pay but as a job it taught you a lot about life and many of your colleagues became family especially in smaller offices like ours The banter and laughs were great!

[@mrgoodkat3722]

I worked at Mount Pleasant from 1985-1996.It was good to see Dave(Cannell) on here after all these years,hope you and your family are keeping well Dave.I have mixed emotions of my time at Mount Pleasant,but look back at it fondly.

[@CARLIN4737]

I worked at KEB St Pauls around 1988. I also thoroughly enjoyed my walks and van runs.

[@jimhemsley5472]

I worked in 3 offices over 14 years starting in 1986 . Best days of my life. The bar was brilliant. Such a good documentary PO to a tee

[@paulcowell7588]

I was a telegram boy 76-78 we were called murgoes god knows why..walthamstow in bicycles then forest gate on puch maxi mopeds and bsa bantams...after a few months I knew the entire east London area..fantastic job..

[@joemorgan636]

Lovely times wow way way before my time but I’ve use to hear all about these stories great

[@andrewrichardson7024]

Worked for royal in leeds for 40 years and unfortunately it's not what is was

[@silondon9010]

Simon Thompson CEO of Royal Mail destroyed the job with brutal attacks on terms and conditions 😢 ,horrible human being

[@RG7621]

Which D.O did you work in?

[@johnbeagley8162]

I started 1986 at the now gone Kingston MLO in St Marys Road Surbiton. Also did walks in Surbiton and Thames Ditton out of Villiers Road DO Kingston. 1988 i transferred to Peterborough Where i still am today 37 years later in Network as an HGV Class 1 driver. When i started the job was as i was told a job for life and the banter was brilliant. Management was fim but fair and i respcted them as they did what i did before i started. Im lucky to have had the best years left of Royal Mail. I feel sorry for those now who have years left as its all gone mate. The buisness is dying and has done since privatisation in 2013. We all forsaw the slow demise of this once great institution.😢

[@silondon9010]

Many delivery routes are completely unachievable with brutal workloads now 😢

[@davidreid6529]

I worked as a postman from 1984 to 2002 in SW1 and Nine elms it was a good job as long as you did overtime I remember some of th faces in this video most genuine people and lots of characters. Good old days

[@CARLIN4737]

It really does seem now they were the good old days....I was over at the KEB St Pauls in the late 80s 2nd delivery out by 11am. Thats right folks you used to have a 2nd delivery by noon and in the pub shortly after St Brides Tavern or round Smithfield market area. I lived in Steatham and got the 133 to liverpool street at silly oclock. even if you didnt have a walk youd go out on the vans emptying post boxes and picking up from offices an absolute walk in the park. I loved my time as a postmen EC1 to EC4. Trained at Old street and learnt every postal address in that area throwing up 500 cards into the frames with only a small amount of error allowed.. Great days 18 and living the dream working in London.

[@1998Mercedes]

Stared as a cadet in 1987...year later PHG, then onto Delivery Manager, Distribution Manager...back to PHG & finally still a rural postie as its not the job it was. But very fond memories.

[@silondon9010]

It's terrible now on Delivery

[@thethirdman9493]

The length of walks now is crazy 🤪

[@CARLIN4737]

@@thethirdman9493 Staggering.

[@occam5052]

This digital oral history is so important 🇬🇧

[@Steaks652]

Started in 1978 as a tele boy , great times.

[@lesmartin8131]

Worked in Mount Pleasant Farringdon Rd EC1 parcels section Dec 71 to July 1975 had 2 uncles in the letter section : phg George Jones and Bill Martin ,also on the Parcels side was uncle Len Martin and a cousin Paul Brightwell . When we took parcels down to the p.o. railway we could see the old prison cells there and old enamel signs reading " prevention of consumption - no spitting " . When i started we went to a school down by Kings Cross they showed you how to use the Miller trucks , tie a clove hitch etc that was followed by getting you to sort 500 addressed cards into pigeon holes within 20 minutes . Eventually you got to work all over on large lumps or Damaged or on the front table uncle Len sez go on the reserve youll get a good shift none of that 8 to 10:36 nonsense so I ended up on the reserve around no. 42 on seniority list and did the Chancery Lane , Law Courts , walk . Great fun . Uncle Len did the Savoy walk. Overtime was called fatting and if you did a whole week of overtime it was a turkey ! The banter there was incredible. Bus conductors dropping you off in Roseberry Avenue shouted " Butlins holiday camp". We worked an hour up and down and had to tell yer mate were you were going to be ie the "Ex(mouth) Arms , the Pak(enham) the Wilmigton the Union the Horseshoe and Magpie , the Clerk(enwell)or the Surprise.

[@CARLIN4737]

yeah next stop was KEB St Pauls on the old railway. I didnt like it down their , mice running around all over the place and in the bag room.

[@silondon9010]

Royal mail walks are now unachievable 😢 , destroyed by Simon Thompson CEO of Royal Mail

[@CARLIN4737]

Seems that way. heavy work load now. see my various unrelated posts.

[@Mounhas]

Different times different rules. I enjoyed my time in Cornish & Sussex offices. Cornish ones on a walk I’d take my dog with me, on 2 rural rounds no dog and then a late shift (to 1800) collecting from town & rural boxes and then a run into Redruth. Occasional Sunday collection overtime. Split shifts were odd, a morning delivery, 3 hours off back again & just one hour delivery. Interesting video…

[@silondon9010]

Destroyed by privatisation and Greed

[@GregBouchard-w3i]

U do a great job on here am a big supporter of u do a good job on here am big supporter of u do a rally good job

[@silondon9010]

Unfortunately privatisation destroyed Royal Mail, tracked items prioritised over letters 😢, just about Greed now and to hell with quality of service, Simon Thompson CEO ,the man who destroyed Royal Mail

[@EdLeslie-h4w]

The Best Job I ever had .... Parcel section, in the West End of London, in the 60s. Hard work especially at Christmas but everyday was fun with a crowd of guys who where tops at banter. Plus something else was you knew your patch and it's people. Then in the 70s I left and moved over to the Post Office Telephones. Still a fun job but never to the standard of Royal Mail.

[@thethirdman9493]

Unfortunately now being turned into a gig economy job , with ridiculous workloads

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Brings back memories.

[@essexandy189]

Started 1979 as a 15 year old messenger in a BT Building then Worked at KEB EC1 from 1982 great place to work until they shut us down in 1996 and moved us to Mount Pleasant

[@sam7687-i9b]

Sounds like a good era and a good job

[@silondon9010]

Unbelievably bad now unfortunately

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Don't do it dude, you'll be eaten by the immense workloads.

[@paulfisher8753]

Took my test in 1983 at Notting Hill, 2 weeks at Kings Cross, then Hammersmith DO...

[@philipjulian3884]

I did 33 years loved it

[@Cashisking464]

I take it you were a manager 😂😂

[@gsg9205]

1980- 1993 messenger then parcel concentration office in Manchester. Left when they were reorganisaning and moving to Liverpool....joined the cops. I really enjoyed the days at the Post!

[@CARLIN4737]

EC1 to EC4 KEB St Pauls 1988/89 Absolutely loved it. Until they put me on lates on the machines which i absolutely hated so i left and a year or two later joined The Army.

[@jeffreyhodge5564]

In some respects what a curse the electronic age has become ,e mails ,on line shopping ,we are going to loose our communication skills ,,I knew a lad whose father was a postman after the war ,almost had to parade at beginning of the day ,smart uniform ,polished bike but his dad loved it ,so much of what we had has now gone ,remember going to Newcastle station at night time ,heaving with activity ,papers ,parcels ,and post sacks and parcel trolleys ,Travelling Post Office a treasured job ,glad to have grown up with it ,

[@Joseph1Sco]

A lot of the things staff got away with that they would probably be sacked for now but at the end of the day all the work got done and most staff were happy. Staff were treated like adults who could be trusted to do their work instead of children who couldn't. A lot of employers could learn an awful lot from that especially in the age of mental health concerns.

[@CARLIN4737]

yep We were all trained though at Old street and uniform was strictly adheered to. Heavy blue postmans jacket and trousers. black shoes or trainers they issued. light blue shirts and gold badges. KEB St Pauls 1988/90.

[@emmascully9850]

We love Mark our postie, always a warm hello and aways cheerful, whatever the weather and yes we have absolute trust in him. wasn't the GPO/ Royal mail one of the oldest company in the World?

[@michaelhunt4445]

My very good friend Doon Hamer at 23 44, Down /Up Special and NW Down TPOs

[@enochpowelghost]

It was like a prison working at the sorting office ECDO , you had black one way window towers at various points of the building along the sorting frames to keep an eye on you. When you wanted to goto the toilet you had to hold hand up and ask boss you want to go and he will enter it in a book and then ask "what wing toilet you going to" i would say west wing and then he would say you got 5 mins!. If you took longer they would send someone to check what your doing. when you were called on tannoy system normally the "BOOKroom" your badge number was called not your name. The workers were great and always having a laugh most of them were 8th army vets or dockers as film suggests this was during the early 70,s to late 70,s. ranks were messenger boys,postman,postman higher grade, assistant inspectors (the ones that you had to ask to go to toilet). The canteen facilities were excellent and well run my fave was double egg curry and chips, tea was 2p , you needed a licence to drive the large old style lifts my lift was hardly used when i was on shift due to all the After effects of the double curries since it hanged around the lift shaft for hours..

[@andrewgrundy744]

Old school posties sadly a thing of the past now Royal Mail is now going to the dogs now it’s privatised

[@deltic223]

This was on Sky TV yesterday

[@Middlesbrough250]

I worked at Mount Pleasant, It's great fun, and non Academic job.

[@Cashisking464]

Simon Thompson CEO of Royal Mail destroyed Royal Mail 😢

[@carlhilliard677]

When i started i got a reserve duty cutting tipping facing 😂

[@davidmarks7728]

Great memories ex Royal mail from 1983-1994.

[@silondon9010]

Destroyed by Simon Thompson and his cronies 😢

[@beaudidlyno1]

When i started the red vans had ER on them for Elizabeth Regina. Now new vans are white and will have CR on them for Czech Republic

[@Cashisking464]

This service used to be the envy of the world but sadly destroyed by privisation with the money making Tracked items packages prioritised over letters and completely unachievable workloads 😢

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Absolutely insane, packets are now priority. The job is a shell of what you see here.

[@SHEARMINATOR]

Big up Steve Chapman at the fleet Hampshire delivery office he is retiring this year

[@reedfamily2320]

I remember "Speedy Steve Chapman" when i was at Fleet do 1989

[@SHEARMINATOR]

@@reedfamily2320 I've kept in touch with him he recently retired he said he first started in 1973? Something like that. I started in fleet DO in 2013 and unfortunately retired on ill health in February. Nice bloke. Job is nothing like it used to be Infact it puzzles me why didn't give him A van towards the end of his days at fleet all that dead walking pushing a pram!

[@TMCHL]

2:02 that face 😂

[@Cashisking464]

HOW DID THE UNION EVER AGREE TO NEW ENTRANTS BEING ON INFERIOR CONTRACTS 😢 SHAMEFUL BY THE CWU

[@pmajudge]

REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD POSTMAN 1960'S 70'S ---- 1980'S -- LADIES JIONED IN !! EQUAL OPPOURNITIES !!! THOSE WERE THE DAYS !! 1970'S FROM U.K.(2022)

[@amycorbett4664]

23:46 is this what 60s rap sounds like ? Should get him a track to spit his bars to 😅

[@tok1964]

The facing table was a punishment……

[@essexandy189]

At Belgrove in Kings x you trained on the cards for the sorting frames ops then we had to go to Bishopsgate to learn the EC Cards luckily all the answers were on the back off the cards but i never cheated at all 😂😂😂

[@CARLIN4737]

yeah we had our training at Old street. 500 cards thrown up into the frame to pass. KEB St Pauls 1988.

[@JustinRichards]

Their own bar?

[@michaelhunt4445]

Not now

[@danielrussell446]

Must be in London there was never one in Wolverhampton or our offices but a excellent canteen!

[@lifeofriley.1068]

There was a bar in Liverpool’s Copperas Hill MLO. Think it closed about '95

[@CARLIN4737]

Yep we had 1 in the KEB St Pauls office.

[@jeanmoore3997]

Sheffield MLO had a pub on the ground floor, I believe it was called the 'Penny Black'.

[@puppets.and.muppets]

i would have liked to work on the night mail train. driving the train, and smoking doobie.

[@TS-1267]

... Another " Buttigeig' Surname 2:09... Who'd 'a Thinked It.... 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿✌️🍿

[@silondon9010]

Great company destroyed by privatisation 😢 and Greedy shareholders

[@davidhartley5558]

This would never happen now start later Finish later royal mail doesn't what this company to succeed get rid off letters and take on packets 😂👎

[@rapman5363]

Pip Pip Cheerio Bob’s your Uncle

[@mrjohncharlesbrown]

It's finished due to emailing of pdf documents paperless bank statements DocuSign documents WhatsApp Facebook Ecards, few people write letters sad but true

[@silondon9010]

Junk mail is not decreasing