RedBikeBoys.co.uk

Hi Leicester grammy's

I was at telegram delivery from 1977 to 1979 and had a great time there.
I think most of us were motorcycle mad in those days and it was good outlet for getting out on a bike. Nothing better in the summer and probably nothing worse in the winter? Think some of us must have hypothermia in the snow at times. Wouldn't have missed doing it though.
There were loads of characters all with nicknames I remember....Steve Coley (Stan Cooney), Roman Bazcek (Bam Bam) , Muppet, Dickie Davis, Popey, Mick Sharpe (Daft Dog), Steve Bosden (Ugly), Phil Gaunt and loads of others. I won't tell you my nickname..too embarassing.
I remember Busty Goode and Tony Nelson who used to be in charge of us unruly youths...poor devils, they had the patience of saints.

If anyone remembers me, feel free to get in touch?
mick07ewert@hotmail.co.uk

Long time ago but have lots of good memories.

Mick Ewert (Leicester 14)

Hi All,

I was a Telegram boy from July 1971 until 1975 when I had to go to be a Postman. I did not want to do this, so I left. It was my very first job, and was based for the first two weeks at Mornington Crescent NW1, then went to Harlesden for 18 months, then finished up at Golders Green. They were really good days. If there is anyone out there who remembers me, then please get in touch.

Regards to all

Steve Leach
steveleach@hotmail.co.uk

Hi Everyone,
I was based at Mornington Crescent NWDO from 1975 - 1977. We used Puch Mopeds. The nickname for a new boy was "Chisel" I have no idea why that name was used. It was a very interesting area that we had to cover. Somers Town, Camden Town, Kentish Town, Hampstead and St. John's Wood. I remember on one occasion that we had a telegram for Hughie Green. He lived in a private flat above Baker Street Station. He was known to us telegram boys as a big show off, as he was always seen around the area expecting people to ask him for his autograph. Well me being a "Chisel" i drew the short straw to go to his flat and deliver him a greetings telegram. I rang the bell and when he answered i pretended that i did not recognise him. He was not impressed. I then continued as follows..." I have a telegram for a Mr HUGGI Green", he said "it's not HUGGI It's Hughie" "you must know who i am i host Oppertunity Knocks!" I said "Never heard of you mate!" He shut the door in my face! We all had a laugh when i got back and told the lads.

Gary Driscoll

Hi all,

I was at Ilford from 1958-60 what a time we all had going round and round the yard to get up enough speed to drive off the loading bay.
And oh! those M/C gloves they gave us ,your hand froze solid in winter you could not pull the clutch in.I left and joined the RAF.
Regards,
Barry.

I STARTED AT ASHDOWN RD KINGSTON. IN 1965. IN THOSE DAYS YOU STARTED ON PUSHBIKES AROUND THE KINGSTON AREA BEFORE BEING TRAINED ON MOTORBIKES. I WAS VERY GOOD AT GETTING INTO VARIOUS SCRAPES,INDEED THE ASSISSTANT HEAD POSTMASTER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A RECORD LIKE IT!! THE P.H.G IN CHARGE WAS ALWAYS ADDRESSED AS CHIEF, THE FIRST ONE KEN WORSFOLD WAS A REAL GENT,NOT LIKE THE PERSON THAT FOLLOWED HIM. WE HAD A GREAT BUNCH OF GUYS THERE AND ENJOYED OURSELVES MOST OF THE TIME. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE AREA WE COVERED WE MET MANY CELEBRITIES, NOTICIBLE HOW DIFFERENT SOME WERE TO THERE SCREEN IMAGE! WE WERE A LITTLE MAD ON THE BIKES,AND THE INEVITABLE HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HAMPTON COURT ROAD,ENTITLING ME TO FULL BOARD IN KINGSTON HOSPITAL. AS MOST OF MY WORKING LIFE HAS BEEN ON AMBULANCES ,I HAVE SINCE TAKEN MANY TO HOSPITAL MYSELF. I ENJOYED THOSE DAYS AND THE COMPANY,AND HOPE ALL MY FORMER WORKMATES HAVE HAD GOOD LIVES.

hello everyone! i was a tele gram boy in london 1964 1967,I started at camden town (1964) then moved to harlesden. From there i moved to Brent. After they closed brent i was moved to golders green where I finished my time as a tele gram boy. I moved out of choice to kilburn sorting office and was put on the walks!!! I still have a B.S.A reg 355 BXE and would love to get in touch with anyone who might remember me. please get in touch yharcombe@googlemail.com My name is dave harcombe you would remember me as i was only 5 ft tall!!

Hi Everyone,

I found your site by pure chance. I am restoring an old BSA Bantam GPO machine “FEL 888”. It isn’t just any machine to me. My late father Jack was a GPO telegram boy in the early 1950’s. When he left the service and moved on to other things his machine was assigned to other riders but he kept in touch, eventually bought it and stored it in the back of his garage untill he passed away in 2005. I inherited the machine and now am trying (?) to resurect its fortunes, not , to be honest because I am a fan of the Bantam but more to relive my dads youth on his behalf if that makes sense. “FEL 888” Is the VERY SAME bike he rode. One day I hope to ride it too with happy memories. Thought I would leave the post to say I had visited. John

hi - I was a gram boy in Ipswich in 1968/69/70 I liked it so much I still deliver telegrams now. I have 7 ex postie bikes - four 175cc - one 125cc - a puch and a raleigh. I also have the sixties uniform and the orginal telegrams. I go out and deliver telegrams and flowers and I get some funny looks but people love it. Go to my website: www.ipswichtelegrams.com to view my details.

I was at Slough 1958/9 and had the pleasure of riding an iconic red Bantam
MYF 739. Sadly no records of these bikes survive unless they are still running in preservation.
There is one on you tube (look under gpo bantam) GLE 861C.
Does anybody recognise this number or know where it was staioned?

Hi,
I was a Red Bike Boy from 1959 -1962 at Kingston upon Thames Surrey,they were the best days of my time on the old G.P.O.& Royal Mail , after the bikes transfered to New Malden Surrey at 18 as a postman and then PHG ,I retire in Sept this year after 53 years.Very interesting site hope it expands.
All the best
Ray

Hey, Leicester Boys ! I was on the "Grams" at the beginning of the 1980`s
just has the last Bantam had been replaced by the awfully slow and very "uncool" PuchMaxi Moped!!.
Although the bikes were generallyscorned upon by most of us, we still had a fantastic time< whilst out and about. I remember we all had to take the Moped test , has we were not allowed to work with L plates and taking any sort of test on a PuchMaxi was a feat in itself!!
I have so many funny stories about my time with Leicester Grams,
it was a fantastic learning curve for me being a 17yr old and I learned a hell of a lot about People , and their , lets say quirks !!
some of the lads I worked with were, my old mate, Mark Greenhill, Dickie Davis, Roman Bazcek, Stan Cooney, Wayne Basey and there must have been others but I dont recall all of the names.. What a brilliant job, we had such a bloody good time !

Hi.

I was a messenger based at Fareham Post Office Hampshire in the late sixties and I have to say that looking back it was the best job I ever had. I transferred to Preston Lancashire and went on to become a postal officer and later achieved promotion to management duties. I had a career for more that 33 years with the post office.

I was a Messo in Leicester 1950 until 1952, during which time those fortunate enough graduated from push bikes to Motor cycles, 125 B.S.A.Bantams, green at first then post office red. 58 young lads aged 15-18 w had a hell of a good time

14 year old Boy Messenger EXETER - 1935 - 1938 Followed by S.C.&.T 1938 - 1940 Armed forces 1940 - 1946 serving in Egypt - Libya first with Gen Wavell's Wester4n Desert Force then Gen. Montgomery's Eighth Army Then 2 years of Sicily followed by Italy with Eighth Army field Postal Unit Retired 1980 aged 60 years.
Any oldish colleagues P.O. or Army about please.

hi to all my mates from brent cross london started at eversholt st nw1
1951 delivered telegrams aroung euston and camden town.of all the clever
people around to day i was just as clever as to learn al the streets an
others in euston and camden town. went to harlesdon nw10 had to learn new areas .at last went to brent cross, had my training at the dog track
car park. passed my test and delivered telegrams to hampes kilburn nw6 where i lived had one crash kilburn high road.out of action for 2 months.
go called up in 1954 went in to irish fusillers. great life.

Hi just to say that i was a telegram boy from 1952 until 1955 then national service for 2years with the Royal Engineers Postal Division.Returned back to my old office which was middleton near Manchester.From there got promoted,went to various offices around Manchester. Enjoyed every minute of it.Now retired after 40 years and enjoying life.
Regards Alan Day

Hi, Spent some time at both Battersea DO and Tooting. We used to know all the short cuts through the back streets of SW 11-20. Passed my m/c test 14 days after 16 birthday and have been riding ever since. Only had one memorable accident, skidded into a CD plated Mercedes at Vauxhall. Rang in to be told, if the engine is going ride it back in, no sympathy from the PSM's. If we broke down we used to join our belts together and get a tow back in. Also we could bump start the 125's backwards. all this for £6. 6 shillings a week

Hi to old past T-Boys, I was a "Postman U-18" ( The Post Office changed the name in the early 70`s). Never got a Red Motorbike, given a red pushbike.
( I am very bitter about this because Battersea area, south London could not handle "another Alderton" in their district, i would have been the 4th one!)
My area was SWDO and South.Kensington London and i spent time as a Telegram boy in the House of Commons. ( that`s along story). I use to delivery the Head Postmasters mail...remember him? Suspected of dying in Oz and ended up in "Jail!"
I still work for Royal Mail in Dorset ( Postman but ex-PHG)and was a recent
supporter for the CWU at TOLPUDDLE. Again Hi to you all... ( we are sad to still be here, but i have got my pension!).

hello redbikeboys,

i was the last telegram boy at Ascot,berkshire (SL5).

apart from leaving to be a courier in london for two weeks (the joys of being young and knowing everything and ignoring the advice of everyone else!) ive worked for RM all my working life,and am now a rural delivery postie in sunny somerset.

i look forward to reading all the memories from everyone on here.

regards

steve

Hello everyone - nice to wallow in a bit of nostalgia!

During 1965 I was a "motor boy" at the old Upper Tooting BO, Stapleton Road, and did my training at Crown Point, Crystal Palace. I had great fun riding my red 125cc BSA Bantam around the area that summer, with the occasional trip to King Edward Building in London. At the end of the year I transferred to Electra House, London, as an Overseas Telegraphist and began sending/receiving telegrams instead of delivering them.

Now retired, I still ride locally every day & have one or two long touring trips a year.

Incidentally, my 3 younger brothers also followed me into the same job (Upper Tooting/Battersea) although the youngest was only at Battersea for a few months as a "pusher" (bicycle rider) until he wangled a cushy indoor position at the Houses of Parliament!

Regards to all,

Gerry.

Hi All,I was a messenger 1975-1977 Upper Tooting/Battersea,South London.I passed my test on the Bantam at Crown Point near Crystal Palace but only rode the Puch mopeds as the Bantam was being taken out of service,I'm still in post at the HOC Nowhere near as much fun though,regards,Pete.

Hi to all Redbikeboy's
I was a redbikeboy in Belfast from 23 August 1971 to June 1974 and am still employed by RM to date. Apart from my schooldays, getting married and seeing mt two children born it was the best time of my life, despite driving about on my faithful bantam, number 619, in rain, hail and snow. I often wonder is she still around?
Belfast in those days was a mad place and you had to be very careful dodging bombs and bullets - added to the excitement I suppose.
I moved to the counter in '74 and after numerous tasks find myself as a manager in HR Services.
Saw the article in the Courier about Michael Petty and just couldn't resist logging on. Looking forward to browsing the site.
Jim McCreight, Belfast 1013.

Just to say I was a telegram boy at Plymouth (PY636) from Aug 1953 until National Service in Sept 1956.
There were 55 of us..3 outstationed at GPO Telephones as house messengers and only 15 m/c duties. After Nat. Service I returned as postman/driver but got fed up with 4am starts and took the P&TO exam and transferred to counter duties.
Finally retired after 40 years April 1992.
Not too good healthwise but the brain is still good.
Best wishes too all of the "Old" brigade.

Hi Leicester boys,
Just to say I was a red bike boy in Liverpool from 1957 to 1959 and they were the best days of my working life.
I remained with the PO until 1992 when I took advantage of EVR, I retired as a PEB and have been lucky enough to have enjoyed a happy and healthy retirement ever since.
I am still an avid biker and spend Summer in England and Winter in Southern Spain, I have a 2007 Kawasaki ZZR 600 in UK and a 2000 one in Spain.
In Spain I ride out most weekends with the RBL riders branch with some great lads and lasses with excellent rides and excellent weather.
I have been tempted to purchase an ex PO Bantam does anyone know of one that may be for sale.
Anyway good to read your article in the Courier and look forward to hearing from anybod we really were a special breedy who may be interested and well done for keeping the interest in the" red perils" going,
Best Regards
Bob Parry