'Postman Pete' from Norfolk retiring after 43 years

A much-loved postie is retiring after more than four decades delivering the mail.

Peter Curgenven, now 65, started out as a telegram boy in King's Lynn after leaving school in 1974.

For the last 10 years, he has delivered to 300 or so customers around the villages of Leziate, Bawsey and Middleton, near King's Lynn.

Peter Curgenven out on his rounds for one of his last deliveries before he retires (Image: Chris Bishop)

More than 150 of them turned out at a surprise party at Leziate Village Hall on Bank Holiday Monday, to say farewell to the man known to villagers as Postman Pete.

"I was absolutely overcome, " said Mr Curgenven, as he made his rounds on one of his final deliveries afterwards.

"I was speechless - and that doesn't happen very often with me. I'd like to thank everyone personally because that really hit home."

Leziate Village Hall was packed as villagers threw a surprise farewell party to their much-loved postman (Image: Kevin Nutt)

Mr Curgenven, from South Wootton, said mechanisation and technology were among the biggest changes to the job he loves.

"The last few years, the letters have gone down but the packets and parcels have gone up," he said. "People would rather buy off the internet than go into town."

WARM WORDS FROM VILLAGERS

 Villagers paid tribute as Mr Curgenven made his way around the lanes in his familiar red van on Friday.

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Postman Peter Curgenven with customer Kim Rose (Image: Chris Bishop)

Among them was sales manager Kim Rose, 62, who lives on Brow of the Hill.

"I used to be a milkman," he said. "I had 450 customers and I couldn't wait to get my round finished.

"This man, he stops for a chat and he's got time for everybody. It's going to take us years to train up a new one."

Jason Ess with postman Peter Curgenven, who is retiring from his round (Image: Chris Bishop)

Neighbour Jason Ess, who works as a surveyor, was also at home when Mr Curgenven's van pulled up outside.

"It's all a people thing, having a friendly attitude," said Mr Ess. "You've done nothing but help us all along, we can't thank you enough."

Julie Jolley added: "He's a wonderful postman, he's just so amenable. I'm hoping we're going to get a good replacement."

Frank Rusman, with postman Peter Curgenven (Image: Chris Bishop)

Retired company director Frank Rusman, 83, said: "He's kind and a nice chap. He looks after us, he always asks us how we are and is everything OK."

Retired receptionist Janice Forder, 81, said: "We're all devastated he's going. I've lived here 36 years, so I've known a few postmen, but I've never got to know a postman like Pete. 

"He's amazing, always smiling, I've never seen him not happy."

Peter Curgenven delivers the post to Janice Forder (Image: Chris Bishop)

SECRETS STAY WITH HIM

One or two anecdotes were shared at Mr Curgenven's leaving do. Mr Rose said shortly after he moved in to the village, he knocked at his door with a card saying that a parcel was being held at the depot with 89p owing.

He added: "When I moaned about having to drive all the way there, he said: 'Don't worry, when I get back I'll pay the 89p and deliver the parcel to you tomorrow. You can owe me the 89p."

While something like 10pc of parcels across the network are returned to the depot because no-one was at home to receive them, Mr Curgenven would arrange secret hiding places with his customers, where he could leave them safely.

Peter Curgenven, who is retiring after being a postie for more than 40 years (Image: Chris Bishop)

"I can't divulge them," he said when asked. "But I've got a lot of hiding places."

Mr Curgenven was also famed for becoming friends with all the dogs on his round - one or two of which came bounding out to greet him after hearing his van pull up on Friday.

He plans to switch to a different type of van when he begins his retirement, hiring a motorhome to head off exploring with his wife, Verina.

Postman Peter Curgenven makes one of his final deliveries before retiring (Image: Chris Bishop)

But he said he would always miss his many customers.

"I told my wife when I first went on it there's some lovely people on that round," he said. "They're fantastic."