RedBikeBoys.co.uk

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just has the last Bantam had been replaced by the awfully slow and very "uncool" PuchMaxi Moped!!.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