Give us back our postman

A group of villagers are fighting to get a popular postman put back on his old round after he was moved by Royal Mail bosses.Postman Kevin Hudson, 50, worked the same beat to the north-west of the city for 21 years, but he was moved to an adjacent round about three weeks ago.

People living in Weston Longville are angry at the move and yesterday staged the first of what could be a series of protests at Royal Mail's sorting office in Norwich in a bid to get him returned to his former round. Mr Hudson, from Ollands Road, Reepham, said today: “It's very flattering that people think so much of you that they are willing to do this. I have been on that round 21 years and have always considered the people there to be my extended family.”

He said he could not discuss how he felt about the move, but a Royal Mail spokeswoman said it was due to a change in the route of the round at its Lyng delivery office.Campaign co-ordinator Peter Ross, from Weston Longville, said each village within Mr Hudson's round had started a petition to get him back.Mr Ross said: “Kevin Hudson is an exceptional ambassador for Royal Mail. Over the past 20 years he has developed excellent relationships with everyone on his round and is highly valued for the quality service he provides. “He is always helpful and cheerful and it's particularly reassuring for those who are more vulnerable as well as those who live in remote areas to see him each day. We want him back on this round.”

Joint co-ordinator Ruth Goodall has called for a meeting with the Royal Mail's regional boss to discuss getting him back. She said: “We'd like to meet with the local head of Royal Mail to discuss how we can get our postman back. “We know the company strives to provide a useful social service. Kevin does that brilliantly and it seems crazy to throw away so much local knowledge, experience and trust.”Mr Hudson's previous round included Whitwell, Sparham, Primrose Green, Colleens Green, Weston Longville and Lyng.A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “We are pleased that our customers have had such excellent service from one of our members of staff. Due to a revision in the walks at the Lyng delivery office the postman will now be covering a different area and we are confident that his replacement will be able to provide the same high level of service that customers have come to expect.”
By David Bale