A BIG cheque and an enormous cake were the official gifts received by Eddie Cann when he retired after 21 years as the Lapford postman.

Eddie was guest of honour at Saturday’s Village Market held in the Victory Hall on February 25.

Julie Down, vice chairman Lapford Parish Council handed over the cheque, the parish council had organised the collection.

Julie also managed to get nearly everyone present at the Market to sign a farewell and good luck card for Eddie. 

He also received a rather nice, three-tier cake decorated with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and cream from Market organiser, Stacey Lumsdon.

Making the presentation, Julie said how Eddie had looked after everyone on his round, including the four-legged friends. 

Prior to 22 years and two months with Royal Mail,  Eddie, who lives in Crediton, worked on the roads with Devon County Council and then South West Highways for 20 years.  

His first jobs were painting the white lines, ending up with jobs such as driving gritter lorries, a difficult job being the first person out on the ice and snow making the roads safer for everyone else. He also drove snow ploughs. 

This stood him in good stead when driving the post van in all conditions.  He remembered one winter when the temperature was -19° C at Lapford. 

“It was one of the coldest places in Britain and I was on ‘Spotlight’ delivering the mail.  You would have to be out in snow, ice, floods and wind.  Often because of my time on the roads, I knew where the problem places were,” said Eddie.

“There were times such as Christmas when my post van would be full to the roof.  There was the time, again at Christmas, when we had snow and the parcels had built up.  I was told to just deliver the letters but I felt people wanted their presents in time for Christmas.

“The presents were more important and people were so grateful to get them,” he added.

His first deliveries with Royal Mail were walking rounds in Crediton, Prince of Wales Road and sometimes the High Street.  Later he covered for days off delivering around Copplestone, Poughill, Morchard Bishop, Lapford, Yeoford and Bow until he was given the Lapford round 21 years ago.

With his knowledge of all Devon’s little roads, Eddie used to do crewing for an Exeter balloon company, usually following to find where a balloon had landed, getting permission to go onto the land to collect it and its passengers and help pack it to take it back to its base.  He would sometimes help fly the balloon as well. 

Now Eddie is looking forward to being able to spend more time on the garden and with his two daughters and catch up time with his grandson. 

Anyone interested in taking a stall at Lapford Village Market should, please, contact Stacey on 07891 556 884 or email: [email protected] .