Courier January 2012 - myroyalmail

.com
the royal mail newsPAPER
January 2012
This issue of Courier highlights the many ways we support communities across the UK.
We’ve published a report about the role we play in supporting colleagues, customers,
the community and environment – you can read it on myroyalmail.com.
Our Payroll Giving scheme is a good example. We’re hoping to set a world record
for the most registered charities supported in a company scheme – more than 950!
One of these charities is Macmillan Cancer Support. Employee Marek Toombs
(centre) is pictured meeting staff at a Macmillan facility, to see for himself how his
donations are used.
Read about Marek’s visit and lots more of our community contributions
on pages 4 to 7 inside.
community champions

2 January 2012 courier@abcomm.co.uk
Moya Greene
My View
a key
year
for us
We play We play a major a
major role role in in
supporting
colleagues,
customers, the
community and
environment
MOYA ON DELIVERING…
For our people
How do you fancy being at the
opening ceremony of the Olympic
Games? We are running a
competition to reward the job you
are doing to transform our
business, with tickets up for grabs.
More on the centre pages.
In the community
Reading the pages of Courier
every month, it seems many of you
could work for the emergency
services! In this issue, there are yet
more courageous postmen and
women (like Priya Ponton, below)
whose quick thinking saved lives.
They appear on page 14.
What an amazing job you did delivering
the country’s Christmas. Our customers
were relying on us and you
delivered for them. Thank you.
Our community role
We don’t just deliver the mail. As one of
the largest employers in the country, we
are a vital part of the UK economy. We pay
more than £4 billion in wages and salaries
every year. We also spend over £2 billion in
communities through the goods and services
we buy.
Last year, we contributed more than
£11 million to local communities and
good causes. This included more than
£2.5 million through our Payroll Giving
scheme, benefiting hundreds of charities.
If you would like to get involved, turn to
page 7.
We recently published a report about
the major role we play in supporting colleagues,
customers, the community and
environment. You can read the report on
the myroyalmail homepage.
I am incredibly proud of what so many
of you do for good causes. This month’s
Courier celebrates your contributions and
the work we do as a company.
We make a real difference. But we
can only keep doing so if we put
our business on a sound, secure and
sustainable future.
Best in the business
We have a lot to do this year to achieve
our plan to be the best delivery and media
business in the UK.
it is worth recapping
on our three
priorities:
• Being brilliant at
the basics
• Building a
commercial future
• Driving profitable
growth.
A major focus for us this year is to develop
our parcels business. It is a big growth
area. You only have to look at what was in
our trolleys at Christmas and January sales
to see this is an opportunity for us.
We may be handling fewer letters, but
mail is still a cost-effective way of advertising
and reaching customers. That is why
we are looking to build a strong media
business that builds on the business we already
have in this market.
Regulatory change will be a big driver
for us. In its major consultation about
the UK’s postal services, Ofcom said the
current approach has not worked in sustaining
the Universal Service. If the regulator’s
proposals go ahead, we will have
far more commercial freedom to run our
business and set our own prices like other
companies.
We have to do our bit, too. Ofcom says
there needs to be continuing modernisation
and cost improvements to ensure we
help secure the future of the Universal
Service.
Our modernisation programme is making
us more efficient and more responsive
to what customers want. We made
progress last year. This year will be the
maximum period of change. We must put
our foot on the accelerator if we are to
continue cutting costs faster than the decline
in mail.
2012 is really important for all of us on
many fronts. I am confident that with the
plan we have in place, we will deliver.
For our customers
We make commerce happen
every working day by connecting
companies and customers. Many
small businesses are having a
tough time because of the
economic climate. We play a vital
role in helping many businesses to
weather the current economic
storm. Look at the lengths our
Truro mail centre goes to for Scent
from the Islands, delivering its
millionth bouquet, on page 9.
get in touch with moya
Moya is keen to hear from you
through the Just Say It channel.
Moya will reply to all who take
part. To get in touch, email
Justsayit@royalmail.com or write
to Just Say It, Freepost
MEET THE TEAM
Editor-in-chief: Mark Glover
Email: mark.glover@royalmail.com
got a
story?
contact
us
AB editor: Lisa Mobley
Email: courier@abcomm.co.uk
Contact the
Courier team
at AB
Publishing on
020 7922
5670
Address: Courier
24-26 Great
Suffolk Street,
London
SE1 0UE
my royalmail.com
myroyalmail editor: Jo Gurman
Email: mrm@abcomm.co.uk
WIN OPENING
CEREMONY
TICKETS
You could
be at the
Olympics
curtain-raiser
– see page 10
Advertising
If you are a business looking to
advertise in Courier, please call
020 7441 4769 to discuss
suitability, availability and rates.
Distribution
To notify HR of a change of
address, employees should email
HRSC.Personal.Data@royalmail.
com or write to The HR Service
Centre, Pond Street, Sheffield
S98 6HR. Pensioners should
email: pensions.data.
maintenance@royalmail.co.uk
or write to
Pensions Services Centre, PO
Box 500, Chesterfield S49 1WX.

For daily news, visit
myroyalmail.com
January 2012 3
machines make
their mark
2011 was the first Christmas where almost
all our CSS machines (Compact
Sequence Sorters) were operating.
These bits of kit put mail in exact walk order
so postmen and women can spend less
time sorting mail on their walk frames and
more time out on delivery.
We were able to make good use of them
to support our festive operation by automating
much more ‘traffic’.
Truro was the last office of the year to install
the machines.
In the South West region, the project
team worked hard to accelerate the training
in time for Christmas.
Machine operator Ken Luke says: ‘Royal
Mail has got it right with this new automation.
It helps to safeguard our future and
gets our customers a more efficient service.
The training and support has been
great.’
Operator Carl Johnson adds: ‘I’ve been
on both sides, working in deliveries and in
the mail centre.
‘It’s so much easier to prep frames with
sequenced mail compared with walk sort
or manual. If you want to burn a few
calories, I’d highly recommend becoming a
CSS operator!’
Truro triumph... Scott
Endean on the new CSS
Small sorters
take automation
to a new level
The bluffer’s
guide to QR codes
scan
this
code
to go
to
my
royal
mail
.com
A Quick Response (QR) code
looks like a square bar code.
You can often see them in shop
windows and newspapers. Now
you’ll see them in Courier too,
designed as stamps.
Each individual QR code
guides you to a different web
page when it is read by a QR
reader in your phone.
Just go to your phone’s
application search facility and
search for QR readers – lots of
good ones are available free.
Then hover your phone over the
QR code box.
Initially, the codes were used to
track parts in car manufacturing,
but their use quickly spread.
Today, the UK is the seventhlargest
QR code user in the world.
You’ll find more QR codes in
Courier, as we point you to
myroyalmail.com which has
more detail and photographs for
specific stories.
Pictures: williams photography, henry davies
chester thrilled to be champs
THE team at Chester mail
centre is celebrating hitting
its second walk-sequencing
target.
As part of the Business
Transformation 2010 and
Beyond agreement, each centre
gets an extra payment for
introducing new sorting
equipment (see ‘Machines make
their mark’, above) to reach
locally agreed targets.
Mail centre manager Senol Ali
says: ‘This makes us one of the
leading teams in the country. It’s
a proud moment for us.’
Chester has installed eight
new Compact Sequence Sorter
(CSS) machines, part of our
huge modernisation
programme investment.
David Skingsley, area CWU
rep, says: ‘I was really thrilled at
hitting the second stage, and
that the 2010 business
transformation agreement has
paid dividends!’
Mike Cumiskay
(left), lates
mech operator:
‘This is great news
and it’s down to
all the hard work
of the mech staff
in all areas.’
John Wildes
(left), lates
mech operator:
‘A good boost to
the mail centre
and good to hit
the target,
especially just
before Christmas.’
June Warren, late shift
packets: ‘It’s really good that
we’ve achieved this target.
We’ve all pulled together to
achieve it.’
James O’Donnell
(left), early
delivery traffic
re-engineering:
‘I’m really pleased
we’ve hit the
target. It’s taken a
while, but we got
there with all four
shifts working
together.’

4 January 2012
OUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
THE
FACTS
we spend
£2.3
billion
a year across
600
suppliers
£4
in society
MORE than 80% of our customers And stats show that 84% of our customers
think we’re an important part of the think we are important to the UK economy.
local communities we serve.
Our annual wage bill of £4 billion and an
With 163,000 employees, we’re one of the annual procurement spend of £2.3 billion
UK’s biggest employers, providing jobs in local across some 600 suppliers means we make a
communities across the UK and a lifeline to significant contribution to the UK’s bottom
both residential and business customers. line.
courier@royalmail.com
We occupy a unique position in the UK’s society and economy, connecting communities and
customers. On pages 4-7, we highlight just a few of our supporting roles…
billion
A YEAR ON SALARY
AND WAGES
A key role
Access
all areas
How our
services help
blind people
Another way we help is through providing
First Class and Airmail services free
for people sending items specifically designed
for blind and visually impaired
people.
We invest around £5.7 million in this each year.
Services include sending books, papers or letters
adapted for blind or partially sighted people (such as
embossed, Braille or large print items) and mobility
aids such as sticks and guide dog equipment.
£10
Million
on
community
investment
in
2010-11
84%
of customers
SAY we’re
important to
the uk economy
Our network reaches places others can’t reach,
with postmen and women often providing a lifeline
to the remotest communities.
One of them is Knoydart, a peninsula on the north-west
coast of Scotland. It’s only accessible by boat or a 16-mile
walk through rough countryside. The mail arrives on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday in winter (every weekday in
summer) by ferry from Mallaig. It’s collected by Tommy
McManmon, who’s been a postman for eight years. His office
is a garden shed, where he sorts the mail on his sorting
frame before delivering it to Knoydart’s 53 addresses.
Tommy says: ‘My delivery route is very exposed. At this
time of year, I complete it entirely in the dark.
‘All postmen and women are busy over Christmas, but
my round was particularly busy with lots of packets due to
the increase in online shopping, as we don’t have any
shops!
‘But it’s great to meet all the people in the community.
It feels more than just a postman’s job – it’s a very social
thing. That’s why I like it.’
Scan this QR
code to read
about more of
our remotest
routes on
myroyalmail.com
Social networking…Tommy collects the
mail for his remote route in Knoydart

For daily news, visit myroyalmail.com January 2012 5
OUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
HALF A MILLION REASONS
TO CHAMPION CHARITIES
Loads of fundraising activities
across the business
helped us raise
£500k for the 2011 BBC
Children in Need appeal.
For the first time, the business
matched the amount raised
up to £200 per event.
And that’s, of course, on top
of all the one-off charity fundraising
you do for many causes
throughout the year, lots of
which are featured on myroyalmail.com
and in Courier – keep
Costume drama... early shift colleagues at North West Midlands mail centre raised money for
Children in Need by dressing up. Pictured (from left) are Patricia Cartwright, Dave
Congrave, Lisa Webb, Phil Rayner, Alison Davies, Pete Christian and Lisa Hodgkiss
the stories coming in!
young people get
a helping hand
A new partnership with
JobCentre Plus launches
this month to offer young
job-seekers voluntary
placements in our business
for two to eight weeks.
Management recruitment
manager Josie Coombes
says: ‘JobCentre Plus will
work with us to offer 80
to 100 young people the
opportunity to undertake
real work and gain
experience of the routines
and habits of working life.
‘This can significantly
improve their employment
prospects.’
Look out for an update on
how the scheme goes soon.
miles better
Foundation gives Tony a kick-start
He may not
quite be Sir
Alex Ferguson,
but Preston
mail centre
postman Tony
Lumb has the
same passion,
as manager of
a youth football
team.
He’s been
in charge of
Leyland Tigers
for two years
– and says
he owes a
special thanks
to our Sports
Foundation
grant scheme
for getting them going.
“The lads now play at
under-13s, but we started
from nothing.
‘We didn’t even have a
kit. I went to the Sports
Foundation, which gave us
funding for a full strip. When I
Our new double-deck trailers cut down on the
number of miles we drive, and the subsequent
emissions – reducing our impact on the environment.
We started replacing single-deck trailers eight years ago. Because
double-decks can carry more Yorks, they mean fewer trailers
on the road.
We bought an extra 50 double-deck trailers as part of the Network
2011 review last year. These feature new curtained sides,
which are lighter than the previous solid trailer sides, allowing
them to carry more Yorks – 98 in fact.
These double-deck trailers have contributed to an annual reduction
of seven million miles.
contacted them the following
season in the hope of more, I
was overwhelmed with £300
funding for equipment.
‘It’s been absolutely
fantastic. In a world of
such negativity, I’d like to
say a big thank you to Royal
Mail, because we would
not have got off the ground
without it.’
To find out more about our
Sports Foundation, which is
fully funded by the business,
email sportsfoundation@
royalmail.com
Apprenticeships are
a scheme to success
OUR two apprenticeships
in engineering
and motor vehicle repairs
will be publicised
during National Apprenticeship
Week –
Monday 6 to Friday 10
February 2012.
Eighteen advanced engineering
apprentices began
their training schemes in September
2011, and 10 apprentice
motor vehicle technicians
began in 2010. More
will be recruited on to both
schemes to start this September,
to help us improve our
competitive advantage.
Apprentices are expected
to have at least five GCSEs at
grade C or higher and to undertake
study in their own
time, as well as block release
study sessions.
Michael Ghigo is on the
Fleet team at the Croydon
workshop and he took part in
the motor vehicle apprenticeship
scheme.
He says: ‘The apprenticeship
was a really good start
and gave me the opportunity
to progress further into the
management side of the business.
It was a fantastic opportunity
when I left school, and
it’s the best qualification I
could have done.’
Fantastic opportunity...
the apprenticeship helped
Michael progress
Have you recently finished school or college, or know a friend or
family member who is finishing school or college this summer?
Want to start earning while learning?
For more information, go to www.startyourjourney.net

6 January 2012 courier@abcomm.co.uk
OUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
The gift of giving
how you make a world
of difference
We believe our Payroll Giving scheme helps more
registered charities than any other in the world.
Here’s how your money helps just a few good causes…
Marek Toombs, regional collection
planner for the South
East, has donated money to
cancer charity Macmillan for
the last seven years through
our Payroll Giving scheme.
It’s a cause close to his heart.
‘My mum was diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer when I was 11, and she
passed away two years later,’ he explains.
Keen to see how his donations
help, Marek visited a local Macmillan
cancer centre at Gillingham’s Medway
Maritime Hospital.
The unit was funded jointly by Macmillan
and Medway NHS Trust, which
runs the hospital, and opened in 2009.
It offers chemotherapy facilities and a
ground-breaking Cancer Information
Service launched just over a year ago,
which the charity is currently funding.
Marek met former patient Julia
Pearce, who was treated for bowel
cancer there. Julia has been in remission
for 10 months now, and was so
impressed with Macmillan during her
treatment that she now volunteers at
the centre.
‘I had 12 chemotherapy sessions,
which made me so ill and I lost my
hair,’ says Julia. ‘But the nurses were
all so lovely, and the whole team gave
me so much support.
‘I decided during my treatment that
I wanted to volunteer. They helped me
so much I wanted to give something
back.’
Vital support... Marek chats to cancer patient and
Macmillan volunteer Julia Pearce at the Macmillan cancer
centre at Gillingham’s Medway Maritime Hospital
Going local
When Marek’s mother was ill in the
early 1990s, she was treated in London
as there weren’t any local facilities,
and Marek remembers spending a
long time in the residential unit at the
hospital, not really knowing what was
going on. He asked Julia what difference
it made to her having a local
place to go for treatment.
‘It definitely makes a difference as
there’s less disruption to your life and
your family,’ says Julia.
Julia took part in a pilot cancer survivorship
group trialled by the unit’s
Cancer Information Service. People
who are no longer at high risk from the
disease get together to share their
experiences and receive expert help
on issues such as dealing with the
financial burden of cancer and getting
back to work.
‘It was a great support, a chance
to meet people going through the
same things and make new friends,’
says Julia.
‘The information service and the
support you receive long after the actual
clinical treatment is over are often just as
vital.’
‘I was really impressed with the facility,’
says Marek. ‘The services Macmillan
offers there would certainly have
helped my family when we were going
through this. I’d like to think my donations
have helped in a small way.’
Top 5 good causes to benefit from our Payroll Giving
The Rowland Hill Fund helps more
than 400 current and former Royal
Mail Group employees every year
during illness, financial hardship or
personal difficulties.
John broke his leg and
needed time off work. Losing
his regular income put a strain
on his relationship and he found
himself homeless. After securing
a home via social housing, he
approached the Fund for a grant
for essential household items.
John says: ‘I never expected to
find myself in a situation like this. I
am overwhelmed by the help and
support offered and am genuinely
thankful.’
• Read more on page 7
Employees have donated more
than £600,000 to Help the
Hospices. Hospices can make a
huge difference to families at one
of the most difficult times they will
ever face.
£1,000 could help provide
a Hospice at Home nurse for a
week so a patient can remain in
the comfort of their own home
but still receive vital care. Just
£500 can help pay for a day’s care
for a whole family at a children’s
hospice.
Over five years, employees have
raised £750,000 for Barnardo’s
through payroll giving, allowing
the charity to work with more
than 8,000 children and young
people living in poverty, coping
with disabilities or battling youth
unemployment.
Barnardo’s also helps the
175,000 young carers in the UK
who provide support themselves
to a disabled or ill family member.
If four Royal Mail employees each
donated £1 a week for a year, this
could fund a Christmas party for a
group of young carers so they can
forget about their responsibilities
for a day.
Since 2006, employees have
raised £743,500 for Macmillan
through payroll giving. There are
two million people living with
cancer, and one in three of us will
develop the disease at some point
in our lifetimes.
Your donations also allow
the charity to provide financial
support to people with cancer.
Money worries can be as
distressing as the illness itself. For
example, 32 people a day receive
heating grants from Macmillan
so they can keep their heating on
when they really need to.
Air ambulances are the busiest
voluntary emergency service in
the UK. They are run solely by
private and corporate donations.
It costs £1,500 an hour to fly
each air ambulance helicopter. The
County Air Ambulance Trust is also
constructing more helipads at key
A&E hospitals around the country
– just a few minutes added to a
journey can make all the difference
to whether a patient lives.
Trust administrator Arthur
Worthington says: ‘These
contributions continue to make a
difference to someone when the
“golden hour” – immediately after
an accident – becomes the most
important hour of their life.’

For daily news, visit
myroyalmail.com
OUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
On the mend…Mark and Emily are
grateful for the help they received
January 2012 7
Our payroll giving scheme
Since its launch in
1989
colleagues have
donated more than
Rowland Hill
really helps
‘I got myself into a spiral of debt that was
just impossible to get out of,’ says Mrs
Vaughan, a recent recipient of help from the
Rowland Hill Fund.
The Fund helps staff and former employees in financial
hardship.
‘I am a single mum with a young family, one of whom
was taken very ill. I had no choice but to stop work for a
while to help them, and everything got on top of me.’
A payday loan helped temporarily, but eventually she
was just paying the interest and still getting into other debt.
Royal Mail Group makes an annual donation
to support the Fund, but it also relies on other
donations.
To contribute to the Fund, you can
go to www.rhf.givingonline.org.uk, www.
rowlandhillfund.org or donate via payroll giving
‘I’d heard about the Rowland Hill Fund. When I rang
them, it was a relief to find so much help and kindness.
‘Thanks to Penny, one of their advisors, I have sorted
everything out. The financial help has made it possible for
me to keep my head above water.’
DRIVING BACK TO HEALTH
Driver Mark Gentry from Ipswich mail centre contacted the
Fund after a colleague showed him the details in Courier.
‘I suffered with a back injury and had to have several
weeks off work and couldn’t do any overtime. Because
I’m only part-time, money started to get really tight.
‘My daughter, Emily, had a heart transplant in 2001, but
her body rejected it. She had another one in 2007, which
has been successful, but she has to have regular tests.
Although we were able to stay at Great Ormond Street
Hospital, the travel and food costs are quite steep.
‘Rowland Hill was able to help me out with these costs,
which eased the stress a lot. Thankfully, Emily is doing well
now and I’m hoping we’re coming out of this bad period.’
HOW TO DONATE
£44
million
over the
past year,
the scheme
has
raised
more than
£2.5m
we
currently
have
41,700
– 1 in 4 –
colleagues
taking part
In the uk 6%
of all payroll
giving donors
work for
Picture: Stuart Thomas
Payroll giving donations enjoy tax relief. For example, anyone who pays tax at the 20% basic
rate only has to contribute £8 from their salary to give £10 to charity.
To set up payroll giving to any registered UK charity, write to Payroll Processing, 2nd Floor, Pond
Street, Sheffield, S98 6HR, fax 0114 241 4525, use the form supplied with this issue of Courier or
visit www.givingonline.org.uk/The%20Royal%20Mail%20Group_9/home.html
group

8 January 2012
courier@abcomm.co.uk

For daily news, visit myroyalmail.com January 2012 9
flower
power
customer corner
Boxing clever...
Gary with the
millionth delivery
of flowers
A Scilly Isles business is
blooming thanks to the
hard work of our teams.
Florist business Scent
From The Islands operates
from St Martin’s and
relies heavily on the outstanding
service we provide.
Ben Julian, one of the company’s
senior partners, says:
‘Royal Mail is our single biggest
trading partner and we could
not do business without them.’
Ben and wife Zoe celebrated
sending Scent From The Islands’
one millionth box in
December.
Its orders are shipped in bulk
by planes and inter-island boats
to Land’s End, where they are
then transported to Truro mail
centre and sorted.
Gary Pentecost, manager at
Truro mail centre, says: ‘Coordinating
the logistics can be
difficult at times, but we love a
challenge, and the effort from
all shifts to make this work
for the customer has been
fantastic.’
scan
this
code
For
more
on
this
story
Pizza
the
action
Door to Door business is vital
to our bottom line these days.
It is very valuable to us, the
advertisers and the companies
who use it to promote and sell
goods and services.
Courier visited Swindon
walk bundling centre to follow
a Pizza Hut leaflet through the
system.
2
‘Reach’
truck driver
Graham Baylies
moves the pallet
on to racking,
ready to be
‘called down’ at
the right time for
its scheduled
processing. He
says: ‘I fill in a
sheet and pass
it to the
managers, so
we can track all
of our jobs and
they can be
processed
according to the
contract.’
Spend on door
drop distributions
in the UK recorded
an increase of 3.1%
to £260 million in
2010
1Forklift operator
Dennis Shirley
receives the leaflets.
‘I take the pallets off
the lorries and check
the leaflets are
correctly presented,
before the ‘reach’
truck driver puts them
away in the correct
place.’
3Once the Pizza Hut leaflets are
scheduled for sorting,
processor Jon Swatton takes them
to his work station. ‘There’s 500 in
each box for this job, so I allocate
full boxes to walks that need that
amount. They are labelled and go
straight on to the York, ready for
delivery to each household. If a walk
needs more, I use scales to count
the exact amount.’
scan
this
code
For
more
on
this
story

10 January 2012
courier@abcomm.co.uk For daily news, visit myroyalmail.com January 2012 11
2012 is a huge year for us. As well as stepping up the pace on modernisation, we’ll be supporting the Olympics.
the inside story
A DIFFERENT approach to delivery office
revisions, trialled in 11 offices before
Christmas, has already paid dividends.
As well as introducing changes such as
shared delivery vans and trolleys, pilot offices
also took a range of steps to improve indoor
efficiency.
While the outdoor approach to revisions
assumed indoor efficiency improvements
would be made, that is now an official part of
the process.
Delivery offices in the trial have introduced
six elements. These include using backless
sorting frames, having dedicated sorters and
porters, sorting packets into Yorks, displaying
their performance measures, using storage
cabinets for Door to Door leaflets and keeping
the floor clutter-free. (See Llanelli landmark
for more information.)
In future, all delivery offices undergoing revisions
will ensure the indoor efficiencies are
in place two months before introducing the
original delivery method changes.
POSTMEN and women at Llanelli delivery office say
efficiency is on the up after introducing the new approach
to revisions there.
Colleagues on rural routes now spend less time indoors
and work an extra 40 minutes a day so they can have one
week in four off.
New backless frames means there is no disruption to the
sorting because when mail is being cleared from the rear of
the frames, sorters don’t have to stop sorting.
Mail is now taken direct to postmen and women so they
spend less time moving around and can get out on their
deliveries quicker.
Postman Kevin Morgan says: ‘I start work at 7am, work
until 3.40pm for six days a week over a three-week period,
then get the fourth week off.
‘My workload has increased, but I’m all for change in the
workplace.
‘We now have a designated porter who brings our mail to
us, which is a huge help in getting us out on deliveries faster.
I feel better knowing we’re trying to get out on the road as
early as possible.’
The delivery office is halfway through its three-year modernisation
programme, with colleagues on urban rounds
next to see change.
Llanelli landmark
Ready for change... Kevin
sees the benefits of the
backless frames
Golden chance for Olympic performers
On our
marks
WHEN this issue of Courier drops through your letterbox,
it’ll be less than 180 days until the opening
ceremony of the Olympic Games in London.
Planning is really taking off. February will see the appointment
of 15 operational staff and managers to help with unit
planning – one from each London delivery sector and mail
centre – onto the Olympics planning team (we’ll meet some
of them in a future issue). They’ll be key to making sure the
service runs with minimum disruption to customers and staff
when the greatest sporting spectacle on earth hits town.
Andrew Boothby, logistics director for London, says:
‘Planners are looking at the impact on every one of our 106
London locations. They will produce ‘work packages’ which
include maps, details of all planned traffic changes, a checklist
to complete for timed and special deliveries, guidelines
on how to communicate plans to staff and how to share the
travel-to-work plans.’
Three key locations – Rathbone Place, Greenwich and
the Olympic Village area – are trying out work packages
WIN!
before being introduced
across the capital.
HOTSPOTS IN THE
SPOTLIGHT
Transport for London
(TfL) has published
likely congestion
hotspots for every day of
the Olympic and Paralympic
Games, and developed a
new version of its online Journey
Planner service, which shows
olympics
2012
Look out for
more in future issues
about how we’re keeping
customers informed,
plans for delivering to
the Games Village and
venues and the planning
taking place in Olympic
venues outside the
capital.
people the best route and likely increase in their journey between
any two points in the TfL network.
‘We’re working with TfL,’ says Andrew. ‘We’re pulling together
a detailed list of all our necessary journeys from start
to finish, covering the Olympic torch relays as well as the
Games themselves.
‘We’ve got a really close working relationship with TfL
now, meeting with them weekly. We’ll also be working with
the 33 London boroughs, not only to make sure we can still
provide a service, but also to ensure our staff can get to and
from work.
‘The proposed traffic changes TfL had put forward, reported
in November’s Courier, have now become official
traffic management orders. Many of the amendments we requested
to the original proposals have been taken on board.
‘We’ve got to be able to deliver to and collect from customers
on the affected routes, including places like Buckingham
Palace!’
medical gamesmaker
RECORD BREAKER
Tiverton postman Chris Maddocks holds
the record as the only man in British athletics
to have competed at five Olympics.
‘My first Olympics was in 1984,’ says Chris. ‘I retired
after completing the 50km race walk in Sydney
in 2000 – going the whole way with an injury
that worsened considerably as the race progressed.’
Now Chris will be featured on American TV
network NBC, commentating on this summer’s
Olympic race walk events. ‘They approached me a
few months ago and I’m looking forward to being
part of London 2012,’ says Chris. ‘Not only will I be
commentating in the studio for the races, but I will
also have media accreditation so I can interview
athletes.’
Nearly 12 years on from the end of his walking career,
many of Chris’s British records still stand. They
range from 40mins 17secs for the 10km race – a speed
of almost 15km/hour – to 50km in 3hrs 51mins 37secs.
Another record was set when he walked the New
York Marathon in 3hrs 14mins 37secs.
If you’ve put in an Olympic performance to help
our modernisation programme, you could be off to
cheer on Team GB at the opening ceremony of the
Olympic Games this July.
We have 10 pairs of tickets to the curtain-raiser on
27 July up for grabs, to recognise people who’ve demonstrated
an exceptional personal contribution to modernising
our operations.
That can be through achieving the highest levels
of safe working, work on the World Class Mail programme,
introducing new delivery methods or indeed
making an outstanding individual contribution that
benefits the business and customers.
You can suggest a colleague who you think deserves
this fantastic opportunity, and managers can nominate
members of their team – but you can’t put yourself
forward. Only frontline operational colleagues can be
nominated.
Email your nominations to olympic.performance@
royalmail.com and put Olympic nomination and your
region or function in the subject box – eg Olympic nomination
South West. Tell us the person’s name, job and
location and a description of why you think they deserve
to win, plus don’t forget your name, email, phone
number and work location.
Entries will be collated regionally and judged by an
appropriate panel against the modernisation criteria
(available on the intranet).
Get those nominations in quick – the closing date is
17 February 2012. Winners will be notified in March.
Good luck!
Maura Campbell, network and distribution manager
at Croydon mail centre, will be a London 2012 Games-
Maker volunteer.
She’ll spend her summer holiday volunteering alongside medics
from the NHS and the Army at the Olympics tennis competition at
Wimbledon.
‘I was recently awarded the Order of St John service medal for
services to first aid with Royal Mail,’ she says. ‘So all this hard work is
how I was selected to become a GamesMaker. I can’t wait!’
Venue volunteer... Maura with
Lawrence Day, St John Ambulance
national officer for special centres
Walking the walk... Chris on
the way to his 10km British
road record in 1989
Injured, but keeping on
going... in the Sydney
Olympics 50km race
talk to us...
Do you know of any Olympic hopefuls on your
delivery route? Are you going to be a torch
bearer or a volunteer at the Games? Let us know
at courier@abcomm.co.uk or call 020 7922 5670

BIG interview
12 January 2012 courier@abcomm.co.uk
Pension proposal
Gerry Degaute, chief executive of the Royal Mail Pension Plan, answers questions
about the pension deficit and the solution offered by the Postal Services Act…
Q. What is the pension deficit?
A. At the last funding update in March
2010, the pension deficit, calculated on
behalf of the Trustee, was £8.4 billion.
The deficit is, at any point in time, the
difference between the value of the
Plan’s assets and an independent estimate
of how much money it will need to
pay out to cover benefits that members
have built up.
Q. Why do we have a deficit?
A. The main reason is people are living
longer so the Plan has to pay pensions
for longer. Investment conditions have
also caused the Plan to be in deficit.
Q. How will the Postal Services Act
help?
A. The Act, passed in June last year,
proposes transferring responsibility for
the Pension Plan’s historic liabilities
from Royal Mail to the Government.
Q. So it’s not definite?
A. The Government needs approval
from the European Commission because
of its rules on State Aid. It has
submitted a formal application. The
transfer of the historic liabilities counts
as State Aid because the Government
would be relieving Royal Mail from the
need to fund the deficit.
Q. How would the solution work?
A. The benefits that Pension Plan
members have built up to an agreed
date would be transferred to a new
pension scheme, backed by the Government,
called the Royal Mail Statutory
Pension Scheme. We expect that
the agreed date will be 31 March 2012,
although this is subject to European
Commission approval. Benefits
earned after that date would be built
up within the Royal Mail Pension Plan,
as they are currently.
Q. How will it affect people?
A. Employee members will have benefits
in both the Royal Mail Pension Plan
and the new Statutory Pension Scheme.
There’s no need for members to take any
action. There may be some changes to
information they receive – both scheme
names appearing on letters for example
– but we are working hard to ensure that
the changes are as seamless as possible.
For members already receiving a pension,
these benefits will in future be paid
by the new Statutory Pension Scheme
and there may be a change to the
scheme name appearing on their bank/
building society statements in the future.
There will be no change to the
amount of benefits pensioners receive
and they do not need to take any action.
Q. So these proposals are a good
solution?
A. We are confident the solution is the
right one all round. A significant amount
of members’ benefits will be backed by
the Government rather than Royal Mail,
so they’ll be more secure. In addition, the
solution will not affect the value of benefits
members have built up and there’s
also protection against any changes to the
benefits built up under both schemes.
Q. Where can people go if they have
questions?
A. See contact details below. Members have
been written to over the last 18 months to
keep them up-to-date with progress of the
Postal Services Act, and that will continue.
The Pensions Service Centre
helpline on 0114 241 4545 (staff)
and 0845 603 0043 (pensioners)
or at pensions.helpline@
royalmail.com can help with any
questions, and these details
will stay the same should the
changes go through.
Watch
&win
Gift rapt draw win
Glynne Merrick
made Christmas extra
special this year after
winning
the
Watch&Win scheme
prize draw.
He scooped the £500 top
prize after his name was the first
out of the hat. He had successfully submitted a
new business lead.
Glynne, who works as a collections planning
manager at the Cardiff mail
centre, says: ‘I didn’t want
all the vouchers for one
shop, so I got a variety.
‘My wife and two child ren
had something extra from
Santa in their Christmas
stockings, and we bought a
Cracking Christmas...
Glynne (left) and regional
collections manager Dave
Bayliss
few more luxury food items than we usually would.’
Osei Kwabena from Leyton delivery office
picked up the £250 prize.
your views: a snapshot
YOU’LL have received your
Courier special about our ‘Snapshot’
survey, sent to around 20%
of people in the company for
their views.
Run by independent company Ipsos
MORI, it showed that:
• Nearly half of people who responded
feel engaged with the company’s
aims – a good result given that we are
going through huge changes
• 76% of people understand the
need for change
• 63% feel proud to work here.
It’s clear you want to know more
about our company strategy. Only
34% of people understand how their
jobs fit into our overall business goals.
You also asked for more information
about how we’re performing for
our customers.
We will keep you informed about
what we are doing to address concerns.
Look out for a company-wide
survey in spring.
ROYAL MAIL EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
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*Not available on Expression, Tech Line, ES & ES Tech models. **Deposit Contribution available on selected car lines only. Finance provided by Vauxhall Finance, a trading style of GMAC UK plc, PO Box 6666, Cardiff, CF15 7YT. Finance is subject to status, terms and conditions. Applicants
must be 18 years or over. Offer applies to private individuals, Vauxhall Partners and small businesses 1-24 (purchase only excluding B2B). All other customers are excluded. Offer available on orders or registrations before 2 April 2012. Vauxhall Partners includes all employees and
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For daily news, visit
myroyalmail.com
January 2012 13
Gym’ll fix it... Paul lost
weight and felt better
A wealth of health
sporting
chances
Many of us make a resolution to
get a bit healthier in the new
year, but perhaps you think you
can’t fit exercise around your
shifts. Think again.
That’s where Shift into Sports
comes in.
It’s a programme of
Visit www.
shiftintosports.com/
royalmailgroup and
register using the
code POST2012. Also
keep an eye out for
the Shift into Sports
team at regional
wellbeing events
fantastic discounts
and advice for
people who
work unconventional
hours –
and includes exclusive
deals for
Royal Mail employees,
like offpeak
gym memberships.
Whether it’s going to your local
gym, playing five-a-side football or
taking a dip at the local pool, there’s a
range of offers available, with no longterm
contracts, and bookings made
online as you go.
Paul Wells from Bury St Edmunds
saw the benefits of going to the gym
through the scheme. He says: ‘Since
moving into management from being
a postman five years ago, I put on five
stone. I really wanted to lose weight
and get fitter.
‘In the first three weeks, I lost 9lbs,
my clothes fitted better and I didn’t feel
so tired, especially on the early shifts.’
Stoke MDEC has demonstrated its
commitment to workplace health by
winning a bronze and silver award
in association with Staffordshire
County Council.
The awards were developed by the
council to recognise businesses that value
a healthy workforce and commitment to a
healthy workplace culture for employees.
The manual data entry centre had to
demonstrate high standards in various
processes such as its approach to sickness,
implementing wellbeing initiatives, raising
health and safety awareness and participation
in local community initiatives.
Work area manager Teresa Barlow says:
‘Now we want to achieve the gold award,
and our employees are all getting involved
to help us get there.’
John O’Neill, operations manager at
Stoke MDEC, adds: ‘To be a part of a
select few businesses within the county to
win these awards makes me proud, and
it was worth all the hard work. Like the
Team GB Olympians in 2012, we are going
for gold!’
full steam ahead for art event
Art on display... Sandra (left) with local artist Ken White,
union support officer Keith Hatch and union learning rep
Paul Horwood
Award-winning... Teresa Barlow receives the bronze
award from Leo Capernaros, Stoke and Staffordshire
lead health development adviser
The latest learning event organised by
Sandra Absalom of Swindon mail centre
is a triumph of art in the workplace.
Sandra, who is the site’s CWU learning rep,
organised an art exhibition at the Steam Museum
in Swindon. She did it with support from
Royal Mail and the CWU, as well as Unite, Unionlearn,
ATL, Swindon New College and BT.
‘The exhibition was all about creativity in the
workplace, featuring art, poetry, songs and
sculptures by our postmen and women,’ says
Sandra.
‘It was a great opportunity for people to
show friends and family – as well as the general
public – what they get up to in their spare time.
‘The event was inspired by a project in
Northern Ireland where trade union members
produced works of art inspired by their workplaces.
We wanted to bring this idea to
Swindon, and had a great response.’
Splash out for spring win!
WHETHER you fancy splashing out
on some new garden furniture for
spring, blowing away those winter
cobwebs with a powerboat trip, or
enjoying a relaxing day at a spa – the
choices are endless with a One4All
gift card.
We have five £200 One4All gift cards
up for grabs for five lucky winners. They
can be used at a huge range of retailers,
including B&Q, Debenhams, Argos and
Red Letter Days, so how you treat yourself
is completely up to you.
To be in with a chance of winning one
of the gift cards, answer the question below.
Q. Who said: ‘All
for one and
one for all?’
Simply send your answer along with
your name, address and contact
number to couriercompetitions@abcomm.co.uk
with January competition
in the subject line, or on a postcard to
Courier Competition, 24-26 Great Suffolk
Street, London, SE1 0UE. Five entries
will be picked after the closing
date of 28 February 2012.

14 January 2012 courier@abcomm.co.uk
More examples of heroic postmen and women going above and beyond to help the public – this time in fire rescues
Timely arrival... Priya rescued
a disabled customer
Lifesaver Priya
rescues trapped
customer
Plucky postwoman Priya Ponton
saved an elderly disabled man
who was stuck in a fire at his flat.
‘I was on my usual walk when I
heard a fire alarm in a block of flats,’
says Priya, based in Gravesend.
‘I went in to take a look and found
smoke coming from an open door.
‘I heard the man call for help, and
found him in his wheelchair with a
blazing fire caused by the toaster.’
He had already pulled a cord in
his home linking to the emergency
services, but Priya wheeled him outside
and told all his neighbours in
the same block to evacuate too.
Priya adds: ‘I was running a little
bit late that day, but in the end I’m
glad I was, or he could have been
stuck in there for longer.’
Mark raises
the alarm
On-the-ball postman Mark Gorthy helped save a
woman’s home from serious damage.
He called the fire brigade when he came across a house
fire on his walk in Monifieth, Angus.
Mark, based at Dundee East, heard a smoke alarm and a
dog barking in the property.
He looked through the letterbox and spotted smoke billowing
from the kitchen, and made the 999 call.
‘The smoke was quite thick by the time I looked in,’
he says.
‘The firemen said there could have been devastating
consequences if it was left any longer.’
The dog escaped unharmed, and Mark featured in various
articles in Dundee newspapers praising his efforts.
Quick-thinking postman Gary Scobbie leapt into
action to make sure his customers were safe from
a fire.
Gary, from Dundee, was approached by a man who had
already rescued his two children from the fire in his living
room, and wanted help alerting neighbours.
Gary said: ‘I went to the flat and the fire was already out of
control. I quickly called the fire brigade, then knocked on all
the neighbours’ doors to make sure they knew to evacuate.’
Alarming situation...
Mark called 999
Must be
something in
the dundee
water!
action stations for gary
Race against time...
Gary helped evacuate
the building
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For daily news, visit
myroyalmail.com
January 2012 15
MBE trio
rewarded
for great
work
Triple honours... (from left)
Graham Underdown, Dave
Skingsley (with Prince Charles)
and Richard Gleadhill
The extra mile... David Wright
with Diane Sandeman at her
parents’ grave, and the holiday
postcard (inset)
David goes
one step
beyond
Postman David Wright proved
he’s willing to go the extra mile –
even to make deliveries beyond
the grave.
It was far from a normal day at
Feltham delivery office when a postcard
arrived from Tenerife with a delivery
address to a gravestone at a local
cemetery.
But the instructions were so good
David couldn’t help but add it on to his
normal deliveries.
‘I’m a driver, so it was no hassle for
me to drop it off after I’d finished my
official round,’ he says.
‘It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever had to
deliver, but at least it shows that postmen
are a good bunch.’
The two sisters who posted the card
from their holiday were as surprised as
anyone to find it had actually made it
to their mum and dad’s grave when
they returned. They tracked down
David to thank him.
He was later featured on the front
page of the Hounslow Chronicle.
Three of our employees have been
awarded MBEs for their fantastic charity
work.
Pontyclun delivery office manager
Graham Underdown has raised around
£150,000 for charity over the past 25 years,
as well as giving blood more than 800 times.
‘I never expected anything like this and
it came completely out of the blue,’ says
Graham, named in this year’s New Year’s
Honours list.
He has completed a staggering 245 10k
runs, 46 half-marathons, four London
marathons and, most recently, three 65-
mile bike rides. Puts the rest of us to shame
Graham!
‘The fundraising is fun, and keeps me fit;
it’s a regular part of my life now. Also it feels
great to give to good causes.’
He will collect his honour later this year.
Two people named in last year’s list have
now collected their awards.
Chester mail centre driver Dave Skingsley
received an MBE for his services to Royal
Mail and charity, raising thousands for
children’s hospice Claire House.
‘I felt honoured to receive this award and
very emotional accepting it,’ says Dave.
‘It wouldn’t have been possible without
the support of my family, Royal Mail and
colleagues, so I’m dedicating this award to
them.’
Performance analyst Richard Gleadhill
received his medal from HRH Prince
Charles for his extensive support for
the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Trust
through fundraising bike rides and
sponsored events.
‘I was pleased it was Charles – he was
very personable and talkative,’ says
Richard, who was diagnosed with MS
himself in 2003.
‘It was one of the best experiences of my
life.’
PictureS: Anthony Devlin/PA Archive/Press Association Images

16 January 2012
general Courier
terms & conditions
1. Unless otherwise stated, prize draws and
competitions are open to all UK Courier readers aged
18 and over, except employees and the immediate
families of AB Publishing Ltd, their agents, or anyone
professionally connected with the prize draws or
competitions. 2. Closing date for receipt of entries is 28
February 2012 (unless otherwise stated). Only one entry
per person. No third party or bulk entries. 3. No
responsibility can be accepted for entries incomplete,
delayed, wrongly delivered, damaged or not received
for any reason. Proof of posting is not proof of receipt.
4. Prizes must be accepted as offered and are subject
to availability. No cash alternative or cash difference will
be offered and prizes are not transferable. Values of
prizes correct at time of going to press. 5. Winners will
be notified by post 28 days after closing date. 6.
Winners of prize draws are the first names drawn at
random or the first correct entry drawn at random by an
independent person after the closing date. 7. If a prize
is not claimed within three months of the closing date, a
redraw will take place. 8. Promoter’s decision is final.
No correspondence will be entered into. 9. Entry implies
acceptance of these rules. 10. The promoter reserves
the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value, if
necessary. 11. Winners’ details are available 28 days
after closing date. Send an SAE marked Prize Draw/
Competition Results to Courier, AB Publishing Ltd, 24-
26 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0UE. 12. Winners
may be required to take part in publicity for promotions.
13. Promoter is Royal Mail Group Ltd, 100 Victoria
Embankment, London EC4Y 0HQ. 14. Neither AB
Publishing Ltd or Royal Mail are responsible for any
third party direct marketing or third party offers or
services. 15. Prize supplier may want to contact you
directly for marketing purposes. If you would like to
unsubscribe from marketing mail, please contact prize
supplier directly. If you do not want to receive further
information from the prize supplier and you enter by
post, please write ‘no’ on your postal entry. If you do
want to receive information from the prize supplier and
you enter by email, please write ‘yes’ in the subject line
of your email entry.
6
10
1
8
The prize for
this month’s
winner is
a Samsung
ES75. It
boasts 14.2
Megapixels,
a 27mm wide
angle lens
with 5x optical
zoom, and
a 2.7” LCD
screen.
2 3 4 5
11 12 13 14
18
15
17
16
■ Send your
snaps to
courierphotos
@abcomm.
co.uk or post
to
Courier photo
competition,
24-26 Great
Suffolk Street,
London SE1
0UE. Please
include your
home
address.
The one4all Crossword
7
9
Name
Address
COURIER’S world tour continues with another
selection of your snaps from across
the globe.
This month’s winner Colin Ho had China
in his hands. Colin, postman at Orton
Southgate delivery office in Peterborough,
joined the Have a Heart charity trek along
the Great Wall of China, and stopped off
for a spot of reading.
Courier crossed the Equator thanks to
Ashley Naismith, from night shift indoor
sorting at Glasgow mail centre. Ashley
was in Nakuru, Kenya, doing some charity
work and raised more than £2,700.
And Lewis Lang was flying high in Arizona, USA, where he was taking a break
from Ashford delivery office to build up hours towards his commercial pilot’s licence.
Postcode
You’ve been framed
Ashley Naismith
Lewis Lang
£10
vouchers
to be won
clues
Colin Ho
Bag yourself a £10 One4all gift card
in our crossword competition
courier@abcomm.co.uk
We have 10 £10 gift cards up for grabs. Once again you’ll find some
help with your answers to this issue’s crossword within the pages of this
issue of Courier. Post your entry to January crossword, Courier, PO Box 165, Ross-on-
Wye HR9 9BP. Closing date: 28 February 2012. See above left for full terms and conditions.
Across
3. Nocturnal primate of
Madagascar (5)
6. And 12 Across. This scheme
of ours helps many registered
charities (7,6)
7. National drink (3)
8. Stamps featuring this writer are
due out this year (7)
9. Boat used for towing barges (3)
10. Surgeon’s knife (7)
11. Catch sight of (4)
12. See 6 Across
15. Flightless Australian bird (3)
16. Re-arrange SINE to find a
Spanish girl’s name! (4)
17. Respiratory organs (5)
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win!
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Register now at www.mywebres.co.uk/
royalmail by 28 February 2012.
For the full terms and conditions, email
evr@wyndhamworldwide.com
18. Shiny Christmas decoration (6)
Down
1. Tiverton postman who competed
at five Olympic Games (8)
2. House-builders (11)
3. Postmen and women at this
delivery office have adopted the
developed approach to revisions (8)
4. Floor-covering for wiping shoes
on (3)
5. He has made more
appearances for Manchester
United than any other player (4,5)
9. Codebreaker who features in
our ‘Britons of Distinction’ stamps
series (6)
11. Way out of a building (4)
12. Sea bird (4)
13. Grapes grow on one (4)
14. Birds look after their young in
this place (4)
November’s answers
Across 6 Standardise.
7 Arthur. 8 Noel. 9 Mount.
10 Auden. 12 Packet. 15
Hubs. 17 Bright Ideas.
Down 1 Stornoway. 2
Inch. 3 Harry. 4 Edinburgh.
5 Mellon. 11 Stout. 13
King. 14 Asps. 16 Use.

For daily news, visit myroyalmail.com January 2012 17
UNFORGETTABLE
YEAR AHEAD
OUR special stamps for 2012 are already creating
headlines.
The stamp highlighting the extraordinary contribution
made by codebreaker Alan Turing during the
Second World War received media coverage around
the world. It’s one of our ‘Britons of Distinction’ series,
issued next month.
The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent,
as well as BBC News online, carried stories
on Turing, who worked as part of the team that
cracked the Enigma code at Bletchley Park, and went
on to help create the world’s first modern computer.
This year’s
stamps will
mark an unforgettable
year
in the UK’s
heritage, with
the London
2012 Olympic
and Paralympic
Games and
the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee.
Our Roald
Dahl stamps,
out now, are creating huge excitement. Other stamps
due out this year include Charles Dickens, Classic
Locomotives of Scotland, Comics and British Fashion
Designers.
Wartime words last a lifetime
A bundle of newsletters shows the
extraordinary efforts Post Office bosses
made to keep in touch with colleagues
serving in World War II.
David Thacker was researching his
family tree when he found a heap of
newsletters titled Northampton News.
They contained letters penned by
serving soldiers who used to work at
Northampton Post Office. David’s family
had them as his father was a sorting clerk
and telegraphist before he joined the
Royal Navy.
Determined to boost morale, his boss
Needham Smith and wife Gwen
(pictured) co-edited the newspaper and
Rare Post Office documents dating
back to the 1920s have been
uncovered in a retired postman’s
cupboard.
The papers, including rules, delivery
records, rotation of duties and order
books, were in danger of staying
forgotten, until Ron Lake decided to
clear out his spare room with his wife
Susan – an indoor worker at Kilnfarm,
Milton Keynes delivery office.
Ron received the documents when
he retired from Buckingham Post
Office in 1998 after 42 years’ service.
Ron says: ‘Finding them has
brought back all my memories. It’s
encouraged people to write in.
Each letter contained anecdotes
ranging from the mundane and
humorous, to the tragic and painful.
Soldier George Carter wrote in 1943:
‘When I received my first mail today since
Ron’s rare finds
Blast from the past...Ron
and Susan with their
discoveries
interesting to read that many of the
same rules from years ago – such as
making sure you double check your
mailbag for small parcels – still apply
to this day.’
See the
newsletters and
an index of names
leaving Blighty and at https://sites.
found a copy of google.com/site/
the Northampton northamptonnews/
News, it was like a
home
breath of home.
‘I’m going quite alright
now, although I got a bit of a smack a few
weeks ago. I was a bit too near to a
mortar and got a nice piece of scrap iron
in the shoulder blade for my trouble.’
David has traced about 80 families
of the letter writers but wants to contact
more.
He says: ‘It’s become much more than
a hobby. It’s about connecting people to
their long lost relatives.’
Trains of thought
They once carried 20 million letters
a day; now there are just a
few surviving mail trains.
Assistant Curator of The British Postal
Museum & Archive Julian Stray gave
an evening lecture on mail by rail.
‘It’s a specialist subject, but once
you start engaging people with the
wonderful stories, it wakes people
up to just how interesting it is,’ says
Julian.
The first trial runs were in 1830. By
the 1970s, 10,000 trains a day were
carry ing mail. These Travelling Post Offices
operated for 166 years until 2004.
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18 January 2012
Winners… Cumbernauld delivery
office team took the trophy
Footie fun
A charity five-a-side regional football
competition in Scotland raised £2,000 for
Marie Curie Cancer Care. More than 20
teams took part in the event, supported by
organisers and helpers, including referees
and volunteer first aiders.
Friendship in action
Trevor Gillan, process engineer at
Northern Ireland mail centre, travelled to
Burkina Faso in west Africa with Christian
charity Friends in Action.
‘This trip was about drilling for water,
meeting the locals and making friends
with them and improving their lives,’
he says.
Bikes get new lease of life
Two charities benefit from redundant
Royal Mail bikes, with Re-Cycle receiving
those from the Anglia, South East and
London regions, and the rest going to The
Krizevac Project in Malawi.
Tim Shipley liaises with the charities.
He says: ‘We’ve shipped more than 1,500
so far; they make a huge difference to
communities that have so little.’
Pulling his weight
Oldham postman Wayne Holroyd organised
a truck-pull with postmen from the
Uppermill, Greenfield and Dobcross sub-
Post Office and Oldham delivery offices.
Wayne says: ‘Two teams of 12 pulled
two 7.5-ton Royal Mail trucks 150 metres.
‘We had a family fun event and hope
to raise £2,000 towards life-saving cervical
cancer treatment for my daughter. I’m
grateful to everyone for taking part.’
Savage cycling
A team of three from Swansea cycled a
gruelling 300 miles in six days, conquering
13 of the Tour de France climbs.
‘It was a savage feat,’ says Huw Phillips,
late shift manager at Swansea mail
centre. Postman Josh Pasquantonio and
retired door-keeper Alan Jones joined him.
‘Together with a golf day, we’ve
reached our £2,000 target for Forces
Children’s Trust.’
Mountains of cash
Three peaks, four colleagues and
£5,000 for the NSPCC. Those were the
stats from the Three Peaks Challenge
arranged by Alec Burns, regional fleet
services manager, North West, with colleagues
Mike Swinglehurst, Keith Thompson
and Ian Preston, and retiree Bob
Owens at the wheel.
‘We couldn’t have asked for better
weather,’ says Alec. ‘We descended Ben
Nevis at 10pm in glorious sunshine – it’s
not often you can say that.’
Joan helps CRY
Joan Mercer retired from her Post Office
counter at Bolton in 2010 and, sadly, lost
her 34-year-old son Alan that year. She’s
raised £760 so far in his memory for the
charities Cardiac Risk in the Young and
Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
Goodwill is a
one-stop shop
Postwoman Maureen
Magee’s charity shop at
Northern Ireland mail
centre has donated
more than £25,000 to
The Northern Ireland
Children’s Hospice.
Maureen sold cards,
toys, decorations and
wrapping paper in the run-up to Christmas.
Maureen says: ‘The shop has been running
since 2005, and every penny we make goes to
the charity, which cares for children with lifelimiting
and life-threatening conditions.
‘It runs with an honesty box, and people know
the money will go to a worthy cause.’
Laura and Lorna’s
leap for Libby
Laura Sproat (left) and Lorna Vevers
(right), postwomen from Lockerbie delivery
office, conquered their fear of heights
to raise £7,500 for Glasgow’s Yorkhill Children’s
Foundation.
In the middle of our picture are Libby Sloan
with little sister Sadie, collecting the postwomen’s
cheque.
‘Libby’s a colleague’s daughter who spent
months in hospital because of a rare disorder
called Guillian-Barre syndrome,’ says Laura.
‘The day of the skydive was wonderful. We
will never forget it – a huge thank you to everyone
who sponsored us.’
Great way to help
Kind-hearted colleagues
at Mount
Pleasant mail centre
raised thousands for
London’s most famous
children’s hospital.
Business customer adviser
(London region)
Meena Dhawan (above right) has been helping
out at Great Ormond Street Hospital for 15
years. As a tribute to her young friend Tiana
(pictured with Meena), she organised another
fundraising party in November.
‘Tiana wanted to raise money to buy iPads
for the kids as they’re in hospital for weeks
sometimes,’ says Meena.
‘We’d raised £20,000 by Christmas!’
Colleagues donated prizes, helped decorate
the venue and bought tickets.
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*Terms & Conditions
1. The Call offer 0800 is open to all 783 Post Office, 9892, POFS, quoting Royal Mail Group 0359602, and FRES colleagues, along pensioners, with friends your and job family title members who purchase a Car Insurance policy
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before 31 March 2012. 2. The policy must be purchased directly with Post Office Insurance by telephoning 0800 783 9892 and quoting 0359602
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1.
the colleagues job title. 3. If you hold an existing Post Office Car insurance policy, you must telephone 0800 783 9892 at your renewal time and quote
0359602, *Terms The offer & and Conditions is open to all Post Office, POFS, Royal Mail Group and FRES colleagues, pensioners, friends and family members who purchase a Car Insurance policy
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to 1. The Post
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This POFS, 2. The
offer is Royal policy
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or amend the offer at any time. 11. Standard policy terms and
Calls
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colleague Sunday.
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2012; however
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the documentation
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when
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Pegasus
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Lines
House,
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8am to
Road,
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not available
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Peterborough
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any
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No.3231094. trade
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purposes.
Pegasus Ltd.
Lines open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday
House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 NOV11
and
6YS. (5670111123)
10am
to 2pm Sunday. Post Office ® Car Insurance is arranged and administered by BISL Limited. BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Post Services Office Authority. Ltd is registered Registered in in England England and No.3231094. Wales. Registered Registered No. 2154540. Office: Pegasus Registered House, Office: Bakewell 148 Old Road, Street, Orton London Southgate, EC1V Peterborough 9HQ. PE2 6YS.
Post Office and Ltd is the registered Post Office in England logo are and registered Wales. trade Registered marks No. of Post 2154540. Office Ltd. Registered Office: 148 Old Street, London EC1V 9HQ. NOV11 (5670111123)
Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trade marks of Post Office Ltd.
NOV11 (5670111123)
10%
10%
discount
discount
off
off
your
your
premium
premium
for
for
the
the
first
first
year
year
of
of
your
your
policy.
policy.
with Post Office ® Car Insurance
Borders Mo bros
(and sisters), from
left: Tony Lockey,
Colin Foster,
Kenny King,
Jacquie Welsh,
Stuart Wilson,
Mary Rettie, Gary
Watson, Graham
Wilson, Robbie
Culbertson,
Andrew Ebner,
Gordon Archibald,
John Little and
*Terms & Conditions
1. The offer is open to all Post Office, POFS, Royal Mail Group and FRES colleagues, pensioners, friends and family members who purchase a Car Insurance policy
with *Terms Post & Office Conditions before 31 March 2012. 2. The policy must be purchased directly with Post Office Insurance by telephoning 0800 783 9892 and quoting 0359602
and 1. The the offer colleagues is open job to all title. Post 3. If Office, you hold POFS, an Royal existing Mail Post Group Office and Car FRES insurance colleagues, policy, pensioners, you must telephone friends and 0800 family 783 members 9892 at who your purchase renewal time a Car and Insurance quote policy
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monthly level of Breakdown instalments, cover the gross when premium you purchase excluding your policy any add-on or at your products renewal, and or instalment upgrade credit to tiers fee, C or will D. be 8. reduced In addition, by 10% for the and first spread year over that the you monthly insure with payments. the
10. Post This Office, offer a 10% will end discount on 31 on March the gross 2012; premium however will we apply, reserve excluding the right any to add-on extend, products, withdraw instalment or amend the fees offer and/or at any charges. time. 9. 11. Where Standard the policy is terms purchased and by
conditions monthly instalments, apply and will the be gross provided premium within excluding the documentation any add-on products when a policy and instalment is taken out. credit 12. fee, This will offer be is reduced not available by 10% in and conjunction spread over with the any monthly other offer. payments.
The 10. This colleague offer will or their end on associate 31 March has 2012; the option however to take we the reserve current the consumer right to extend, offer as withdraw an alternative. or amend the offer at any time. 11. Standard policy terms and
Calls conditions may be apply recorded, and will monitored be provided and within used the for training documentation and compliance when a policy purposes. is taken Lines out. open 12. 8am This to offer 9pm is not Monday available to Friday, in conjunction 9am to 5pm with Saturday any other and offer. 10am
The to 2pm colleague Sunday. or Post their Office associate ® Car has Insurance the option is to arranged take the current and administered consumer offer by BISL as an Limited. alternative. BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Services Calls may Authority. be recorded, Registered monitored in England used No.3231094. for training Registered and compliance Office: purposes. Pegasus Lines House, open Bakewell 8am to Road, 9pm Orton Monday Southgate, to Friday, Peterborough 9am to 5pm PE2 Saturday 6YS. and 10am
Post to 2pm Office Sunday. Ltd is Post registered Office in ® Car England Insurance and Wales. is arranged Registered and No. administered 2154540. Registered by BISL Office: Limited. 148 BISL Old Limited Street, London is authorised EC1V and 9HQ. regulated by the Financial
Post Services Office Authority. and the Registered Post Office in logo England are registered No.3231094. trade Registered marks of Post Office: Office Pegasus Ltd. House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 NOV11 6YS. (5670111123)
Post Office Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered No. 2154540. Registered Office: 148 Old Street, London EC1V 9HQ.
Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trade marks of Post Office Ltd.
NOV11 (5670111123)

For daily news, visit myroyalmail.com January 2012 19
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Tel: 0800 731 3486.
Visit: www.simplyhealth.co.uk/royalmail
ROYAL MAIL PRODUCTS
Redirection and Keepsafe
Two months’ Keepsafe and up
to two years’ Redirection – free.
To apply: Ask your manager
Smilers stamps
Get 10% off sets of Smilers (paper and
telephone orders only).
Quote: 11JHA.
For more info, visit: www.royalmail.com/smilers
SHOPPING
Apple Employee Purchase Programme
Up to 17% off some gadgets.
Visit: http://epp.euro.apple.com/rmg/uk
Bunches flowers
Save 10% on blooms by post.
Quote: RMAIL
Tel: 0800 626 249
Visit: www.bunches.co.uk
Cycle2work
Save tax and NI on a new bike.
Username: rmguser.
Password: rmgbenefit.
Tel: 0845 077 8850
Visit: www.cycle2work.net/employees
EDF Energy Shop
15% discount at EDF Energy’s online Energy
Shop. Available until 29 February 2012
Quote: RME15
Visit: www.edfenergy.com/products-services/
for-your-home/energy-store/
Joe Browns
Get 15% off men’s and women’s clothing.
Quote: MAR916.
Tel: 0113 270 6655
Visit: www.joebrowns.co.uk
Kaspersky
Internet security products for up to 50% less.
Quote: Royalmail25.
Visit: www.kaspersky.co.uk/royalmail
Moko Chocolates
Get 15% off chocolate gifts sent to UK
addresses. Quote: RMAIL
Visit: www.mokochocolates.co.uk
Tel: 0800 027 3387
Sharp Affinity Programme
Savings of up to 40% on TVs etc. Quote: MEC4Y.
Visit: www.sharpdirect.co.uk/royalmail
Sony PlayStation
Visit: https://royalmail.playstation
rewards.co.uk and enter code: PLAYSTATION3
for discounts.
Sport & LEISURE
Airport Parking & Hotels
A 10% discount on parking at major UK
airports. Quote: RMAIL.
Tel: 0844 871 7521.
Visit: www.aph.com/rmail
cottages4you
10% off holiday lets. Quote: Royal Mail.
Visit: www.cottageselection.co.uk/sites/
cottageselection/partners/rym Tel: 0845 268
1335
CSMA Club
Discounts on leisure retreats, live events and
motoring benefits.
Visit: www.csmaclub.co.uk/royalmailgroup
David Lloyd Leisure
Gym membership and free trials.
Tel: 0870 888 3015
Visit: www.davidlloyd.co.uk
English Heritage
Free entry for colleagues, one adult
guest and up to six children to 280
English Heritage sites by showing a
work pass, plus discounts on holiday
cottages (quote: HROYAL); on prints at
www.englishheritageprints.com (quote:
CRPT815); and at shops (quote:
EHCORPRM12).
Visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/
corporatemembers or intranet for
a list of free-to-visit sites
Fitness First
Money off membership at more than
170 Fitness First health clubs.
Tel: 0870 898 8080
Visit: www.fitnessfirst.co.uk
Hoseasons
Discounts on holidays. Quote: mail.
Tel: 0844 847 1296
Visit: www.hoseasons.co.uk/royalmail
Merlin Entertainment
Up to 55% off entry to top
UK attractions. Quote: Royal Mail.
Tel: 0871 222 4001
Visit: www.merlincorporate
discounts.co.uk (quote: megcorp)
Mygolfpass
Discounted golf in UK and Europe.
Visit: www.mygolfpass.com/rmgroup
Royal Mail Sports Foundation
Help with sports kit and training.
Tel: 0151 284 1221
Email: sportsfoundation@royalmail.com
Shift into Sports
Contract-free, discounted fitness facilities.
Quote: post2012.
Visit: www.shiftintosports.com/royalmailgroup
SUPPORT FOR YOU
Childcare Voucher Scheme
Save up to £904 per parent,
per year. Quote: S462321D.
Tel: 0800 612 9015
Visit: www.kiddivouchers.com
Disability Helpline
For disability-related issues.
Tel: 0800 028 6142 or through
RNID Typetalk and BT Text Direct.
Email: disability.helpline@
royalmail.com
HELP
Free 24-hour independent and confidential
advice for colleagues.
Tel: 0800 688 8777
POOBI
Financial help for hard-pressed employees
with children.
Tel: 0207 239 2295
Visit: www.poobi.org
Rowland Hill Fund
For those in financial hardship.
Tel: 0800 688 8777
Visit: www.rowlandhillfund.org
Volunteer/fundraiser support
For colleagues raising charity cash or
volunteering.
Tel: 0845 600 9665
Corporate membership
benefits at
David Lloyd Leisure
• Joining fee discount
• Reduced monthly membership
• Free access to all clubs in UK and Europe
For information on this exclusive offer and the
many benefits that are now available to you
within the National Corporate Arrangement
visit davidlloyd.co.uk/employeeoffer or
call 0844 848 4737.
Terms and conditions apply.

20 January 2012
courier@abcomm.co.uk
letterbox
All letters printed win a £25 One4All gift card,
with a £50 gift card for each month’s star letter.
Stamp
duty
What a lovely front page on the December
Courier, with all the Christmas stamps on.
Just one question: on the second stamp
from the left in the top row, there is no price
on it. Why is this?
Edna Neaves, retired
Philip Parker, head of stamps strategy,
replies:
The value of the stamp is actually printed in
words in a gold colour across the base of the
stamp. This is something we occasionally do to
show the value, although we haven’t done this for
about 20 years now.
The stamp is the one from Christmas 1967
and we’re sorry the value didn’t reproduce well on
the cover. But we’re glad to hear you enjoyed the
Christmas images.
cartoon corner
Worn and
battered
I would like to comment on the poor quality
uniform we have been supplied with.
Since April, my trousers have split down
the seams. On my Cagoule, the zips have
jammed and split. The design of the trousers
does not take into consideration all the
shapes of the human body, and if you put
anything in the pocket on your trouser leg,
you nearly stab yourself when you bend
down.
I imagine that cost has been a contributory
factor in deciding who supplies the uniform,
but surely quality should have come before
cost, as it’s going to cost a fortune to replace
items of uniform that have perished over
a short period of time. Or, if people don’t
replace worn-out uniform, Royal Mail will
have a workforce that looks worn and
battered too, which is not an attractive
advertisement.
Terry Ledlie, Yeovil delivery office,
Somerset
Julie Brown, uniform and print supply
advisor, replies:
Thank you for highlighting these issues. We are aware of
problems with both the Cagoule zip and the seams/zip
of the trousers, and Dimensions is currently working with
the manufacturers to find a solution.
If any employee thinks a uniform item is faulty, they
should report it to their manager, who in turn should
email me. I will then arrange for a replacement to be
sent out. Once the replacement is received, the faulty
item should be sent to me for two reasons: so I can
understand if there are any common problems occurring,
and so we can gain a full refund.
I was out on my new delivery duty
and met one of my customers. When I
handed him his mail – the usual Mailsort
3, Downstream Access, PPI and a
household – his reply was, ‘What a lot I
have got; you deliver a lot more than I
used to’.
He was a postman for more than 30
years in the 1970s-1990s in the London
area.
As Royal Mail is obsessed with
figures and telling us mail volumes are
dropping, can Courier print the mail
volumes for Bognor Regis from a week
in September 1976 as our example
year, and then the mail volumes for
the same week from September 2010,
which is the latest figure available?
I am sure readers would find the
figures interesting. It is either going
LETTERBOX
LETTERBOX
Email courierletters@abcomm.co.uk,
write to Courier letters,
24-26 Great Suffolk Street,
Email
courierletters@abcomm.co.uk
write to Courier letters,
24-26 Great Suffolk Street,
LONDON SE1 0UE
TEXT COURIER TO 80800
(MAX 160 CHARACTERS)
Please include your home address
with your letter
Volume control
Volumes verified... Matt
Shippam wanted to compare
past and present
to show just how much mail volumes
have fallen in this time, or that mail
volumes have actually risen and we
do indeed deliver more than in the
1970s.
Matt Shippam (pictured), postman,
Bognor Regis
Steve Chant, regional traffic and
hours manager, replies:
We have looked into this and unfortunately records
of traffic delivered in Bognor Regis as far back as
1976 are no longer available.
However, we can go back to 2002. Comparing
the mail that was delivered during a week in
September 2002 to the same week in 2011 shows
a 33% reduction in mail.
In September 2002, Royal Mail delivered
453,000 items in Bognor Regis, whereas in 2011 it
only delivered 304,000 – a reduction of 149,000.
star
letter