RETIRING postie Les Barnes has been given a hero’s farewell by colleagues in Trowbridge and residents in Semington where he has delivered the mail for the past four and a half years.

Mr Barnes, 67, of Amouracre, Trowbridge, confessed to being “completely overwhelmed” by the rousing send-off he received on his last day at work.

“It was really brilliant. I had a lot of people out clapping and applauding me. I really could not have wished for a better send-off.

“It has been really brilliant. The customers in Semington are really lovely. It’s a great village.

“The front windows of my lounge and porch are covered in posters. It’s so dark in our lounge it’s like night-time.”

Residents of Semington paid tribute to Mr Barnes, turning out at 11.15am to give him a standing ovation as he completed his last delivery in the village.

He said: “I was given lots of cards, letters and posters, as well as boxes of chocolates and about 14 bottles of different drinks.”

Villagers also took to social media to leave messages, with Jimmy and Sally saying: “Les has done a fantastic job in all weathers and still at breakneck speed in his shorts all year. Thanks Les, enjoy a well-earned retirement.”

John and Sandra Phillips, of St George’s Court, said: “We just would like to thank ‘Postman Les’, he has been really nice and so supportive to us over the past four years.

“He has delivered our post to us here at our door in Semington coming up four flights of stairs to our top floor apartment.

“Always smiling and chatty in all weathers too and even before and after his knee operation. He will be very much missed by us both and all the residents here and on his ‘rounds’ we are sure.

“We want to wish him all our very best wishes for the future and hope he enjoys a long, healthy and happy retirement.”

Paul Barnett added: “Not only was Les a great postman, efficient and superquick. He was all together a really friendly and likeable man. Put those quick feet up Les and enjoy your retirement.”

Mr Barnes had spent two spells with the Royal Mail, working the first four and a half years as a postie in Warminster, before leaving to join Avon Rubber in Melksham, where he worked for 23 years before taking redundancy.

He re-joined the Royal Mail in Trowbridge and has spent the past 17 years working as a postie, the last four collecting and delivering mail in Semington.

Mr Barnes should have retired at 65 but decided to stay on for three more years. He is retiring now having had two replacement knee operations in the past few years.

He says his work has changed dramatically during his second spell with the company; there’s now fewer letters and postcards to deliver and more packages and parcels as people shop online.

“It’s three times worse than Christmas. We can have a van-load of stuff that people have ordered from the big companies. It has gone crazy.”

During the Covid-19 crisis Mr Barnes has had to observe the social distancing regulations and was given two pairs of gloves every day to use.

He said the lockdown has made delivering packages and parcels much easier because people are at home to sign for them.

“It’s made it much easier because we just ring the doorbell and leave them on the doorstep, and either get a signature or code it as delivered.”

He’s also been checking on the vulnerable and elderly in Semington to make sure they’re okay.

“As far as I know, no-one in the village has been confirmed positive or has died from the virus, so that’s good.

“The people in Semington have been a brilliant lot. The one thing I am going to miss is seeing all the customers.”

Mr Barnes now plans to spend more time with his wife, Elaine, and their three children, Claire, 35, Darren, 32 and Leanne, 25, who has Rett Syndrome, a genetic brain disorder that affects language, coordination, and repetitive movements, and is now living in a care home in Trowbridge.

He will also have more time to walk his nine-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, Holly, and pursuing his hobbies and interests, which include skittles, walking football, and DIY chores around the house.