First-class send-off for popular Trowbridge postie (From This Is Wiltshire)

A dependableTrowbridge postman has delivered his last letter and retired after 23 years of service.

Henry Stevenson, 64, who lives in the town, has been a familiar face on rounds in West Ashton, Yarnbrook, North Bradley and Woodmarsh during his time with Royal Mail.

Colleagues held a party in his honour at the Trowbridge Post Office, in Roundstone Street, before his last shift on Friday.

He said: “I’m planning on taking it easy for a little while and I won’t particularly miss the bad weather and the early mornings.

“But I will miss the people I’ve got to know over the years, who I’ve delivered to and worked with. I’m an old-school type of postie. I like to build communications with people on my rounds and I’ve got to know a lot of people over the years.”

Tottenham Hotspur fan Mr Stevenson said one thing he would really miss was discussing football with colleagues.

Mr Stevenson, originally from Devizes, said: “I’ll really going to miss the office banter about the football; it’s always good winding up the Arsenal fans, especially on weeks like this when Spurs have squeezed through in Europe and Arsenal were knocked out.”

Colleagues held a collection for the retiring postie and brought in dozens of doughnuts.

Mr Stevenson gave workmates a giant coffee cake, made for him by a resident from his rounds.

Mr Stevenson’s manager, Joe Newman, said: “He’s a bit of a character.

“We’ve had some good times together and we are very sad to see him go. He’ll be greatly missed.”