FOR more than a quarter of a century Alan Greenslade made sure the people of Bow received their post.

He has been described as “a cut above and five minutes with him put you in good spirits for the rest of the day.”

When he retired, the people of Bow decided he could not just walk away, they had to do something.

Karen Gutans and Dawn McAllister took on the job of contacting people, creating an enormous card and getting him to Bow for a proper farewell.

The result was a £1,000 cheque given to Alan and a huge bouquet to his wife, Annette during the April market held in the Village Hall.

Everyone wanted a quick word with Alan who seemed completely bowled over.  He thanks very much all the people of Bow for their kind donations and the card signed by lots of residents.

Alan’s early years were at East Village, going to school at Sandford and then Shelley at Crediton, now QE Lower School.

From school he joined the Devon and Dorset Regiment, becoming a personnel driver in the Infantry in this country and Germany for five years.

By then the family had moved into Sandford.  When Alan came back from the Army he worked for Crediton builders C Rodd and Co for six years, then J Hoskin and Co Limited on Fordton Trading Estate, leaving to work in Exeter before Hoskins closed.

Twenty-three years ago the Post Office was looking for summer staff, the place Alan was working at in Exeter had been sold so Alan joined the Post Office at Crediton.

“When I began there it was a 4.30am or 5.30am start.  I then had Nymet Tracey and would go over the bridge at Burston, out to Landsend and down to Butsford and almost to Coleford.

“As more houses were built and there were various revisions, my round shrank but there were more calls.

“As for the weather, when it snowed it was fine because more often than not you were not sent out.  Snow you could see.  Ice was something else, you could not always see ice,” said Alan.

That he much enjoyed his job was evident.  He had played football for Sandford and has been a keen fisherman all his life, mainly fishing locally and when he was in the Army.

Alan and Annette were married in 1981.  They have three children and six grandchildren.  He added that it was nice to have a bit of time to talk to people at the market.