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The old Delivery Office, off Flatts Road, was at the rear of the Post Office Counter on the corner of Galgate.
This photo, accompanied by Mr Parkin Raine (photographer and local historian not seen), was taken on the last day of delivery operations from Flatts Road on Saturday April 25, 1998. Post Persons on duty:-
Front row: Charles Walton, David McClurg, Andrew Harrison, John Emerson.
Middle row: Richard Stonley, Paul Fletcher, Colin Chadwick, Mac [Gordon McEleny], Keith Watson (DOM), Fred Fawcett (Poatman Higher Grade).
Back row: Arnold Hutchinson (face not seen behind Keith), Mike Hinchcliffe, Angela Gee, Julian Mudd, Martin Robinson (DOM Support), Tom Moore, Michael Ridley and Brian Peoples.
Ten years on John Emerson is now the DOM; Andrew Harrison, Colin Chadwick, Angela Southworth (nee Gee), Julian Mudd have moved on; Keith Watson and Mike Hinchcliffe have retired and, sadly, Arnold Hutchinson has passed away.
Arnold Hutchinson in the top yard 1998.
Mike Hinchcliffe in the top yard, Flatts Road, 1998.
Andrew Harrison pulling out of the botton yard gates in 1998.
The 'New' Delivery Office, under constuction on the Harmire Enterprise Park, during 1997.
The 1996 OMV Fleet parked up in Galgate while the garages were reconcreted.
DL12 8AX coutesy of Google Earth.
Photo of the Post Office, taken on the corner of Galgate in 1998, completes the panorama.
The 'Removal Team' as the sun goes down on Saturday April 25, 1998:- Martin Robinson, Keith Watson, Fred Fawcett, Colin Chadwick, Jamie Greeves, Richard Stonley and Andrew Harrison.
The new office on Harmire Enterprise Park opened on April 27, 1998. Present, left to right:-
Amanda Stables, Tom Moore, Andy Lax, Angela Gee, John Emerson, Keith Watson, Mike Hincliffe, Michael Ridley, Fred Fawcett, Martin Robinson, Robin Siswick, Colin Chadwick, Jamie Greeves, Dennis Dale, Mac, David McClurg, Brian Peoples, Richard Stonley, Julian Mudd, John McGonagle and Norman Dunbar.
Keith Watson retires in March 1999. Pictured here with Irene Birtle our beloved cleaner who kept us in biscuits and tea.
David McClurg on his 'Town Walk' Jan. 2004
April 25, 1998 - Mr Parkin Raine 'directing' the Postmans photo shoot on their final day at the Flatts Road Delivery Office.
(Photo taken outside the Post Office Counter, 2-4 Galgate.)
Arnold Hutchison
Tom Moore
Mike Hinchcliffe
Left to right:- Martin Robinson (DOM Support), Keith Watson (Delivery Office Manager - DOM), Dave Charlesworth (Capital Planning Manager - he later took over from Keith as DOM upon his retirement in April 1999) and Fred [Alan] Fawcett (Postman Higher Grade - PHG).
This photo taken by Jim McTaggart, the then Editor of The Teesdale Mercury, who later became a major benefactor in the development of this Website via his 'Teesdale Talk' column in the Northern Echo.
Dave Charlesworth was DOM of Barney from April 1999 to March 2008 with John Emerson taking over in the April.
Irene Birtle & Tom Moore
Keith Watson, Delivery Office Manager, retired March 1999.
Fred devouring a 'Full English' in the days when he could get a meal relief!
'Clear Office'!!!
A second photo form Richard Plumb showing the front elevation of the Delivery Office.
Barnard Castle Delivery Office.
Photo of left elevation courtesy of Richard Plumb - Post Office Property Holdings.
Present:
Martin Robinson, Mac (Gordon McEleny), Andrew Harrison, Michael Ridley, Mrs Anne Underwood, Pauline Race, David McClurg, Richard Stonley,
Keith Watson, Julian Mudd, Dennis Dale, Colin Chadwick, Paul Fletcher, Mike Hinchcliffe,
John Emerson, Norman Dunbar, Jamie Greeves and Fred Fawcett.
Although rugby star Tony Underwood, of the Newcastle Falcons, agreed to officially open the new office on Tuesday November 10, 1998 he was later picked to play for the England squad.
Not wanting to let local posties down, Tony enlisted the help of his own super-sub - his Mum Anne who lives in Startforth, Barnard Castle. And it was she who pulled the cord unveiling the plaque bering Tony's name. He grew up and went to school in Barney along with his equally famous brother Rory.
Around 100 people attended the official opening launching a new era for mail deliveries in Teesdale. At the time of opening the office served some 5,700 addresses delivering an average of 19,000 items per day. By August 2006 addresses had inreased to 6,100 with the traffic rising to over 25,000 items per day - this despite increased competition following deregualtion in January 2006.
Mrs Anne Underwood 'pulls the cord' with Teesdale District Council dignatories - far right Councillor Clarey Watson with Mrs Watson next to Anne.
The Design and Planning Team that made the New Delivery Office happen.
Pictured left to right are:-
Ronnie Walker, ? , ? , Richard Plumb, ? , ? , Steve Lester, Colin Clarke, Phil Kendall, Dave Charlesworth.
From The Northern Echo TEESDALE TALK - Postal staff are kept at full stretch.
Publication Date: 18-DEC-04
Byline: JIM McTAGGART
FAMILIES are sending and receiving more Christmas cards than ever in Teesdale. The total of items delivered by postal staff passed the 50,000-a-day mark this week compared with a daily peak of 48,000 a year ago.
Festive greetings have also pushed outgoing mail to record levels, meaning a lot of overtime for the 25 Royal Mail staff, led by Dave Charlesworth, delivery office manager in Barnard Castle.
"The total has gone up steadily since this office opened in 1998, and the trend shows no sign of changing, " he said.
Pam Royle interviews Norman Dunbar, Postman Driver on Harwood Rural Post, in 2001 for Tyne Tees Television.
The following four photos were taken by Amanda Stables at Folly Top, Eggleston, on her Rural Post Walk.
Taken during the adverse weather in January 2008, they show BC8, a Transit Connect, in the snow.
04/01/2008 - Amand writes: Good morning Mr Charlesworth, I hope you like the photos attached.
You wouldn't believe the work it has taken to get the bloomin' things of my phone!!! Will get some better ones next snow fall with my grown ups camera!!
Kind regards, Amanda.
Hope you like my Glaxo at Dawn picture. I got it last week [Sat. Feb.16, 2008] on my round coming out of Woolhouse near the golf course.
Kind regards, Mand.
The last day of service for Mrs Katherine Green was Friday February 29, 2008. Many thanks Katherine for the sevice you provided to the Customers of Bowes!
Saturday March 8, 2008.
Daphne took over Bowes Sub on Monday March 3, 2008.
Her opening hours will be:-
Monday: 09:00 to 13:00, 14:00 to 17:00
Tuesday: 09:00 to 13:00, 14:00 to 16:00
Wednesday: Closed.
Thursday: 09:00 to 13:00, 14:00 to 16:00
Friday: Closed.
Saturday:Closed.
As a Community Post Office the Sub will be open a total of 19 hours per week.
O
DAPHNE BOWMAN is delighted with the response from local residents since she stepped in to save the village post office and shop in Bowes.
She was busy in the postal section while her husband, Pete, was behind the provisions counter when I called on Thursday. They had a modest, but useful, range of food - sausages, bacon, cold meats, bread, butter, soup, etc. - and were delighted that a good number of customers from their former days in the business had returned to support them.
"When anyone asks for items we don't have, we are making a note of them and will try to put them on the shelves soon," said Mrs Bowman. "We'll build up the stock as much as possible, but without going overboard, as we haven't much money to spare."
Children will be pleased to know that sweets and chocolate are on the priority list.
"Children have been coming in asking for them," she said. "We haven't got any yet, but we will put that right shortly."
But the most important point is that residents can still call for their pensions and allowances, which would have caused a major problem for many if the business had closed as planned last Friday.
The couple, who live a few yards from the shop, were filmed by Tyne Tees television shortly after they opened on Monday, and were thrilled to see themselves on the screen.
They intend to open for 19 hours a week, spread over Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Daphne Bowman opens a new chapter breathing life into the endangered Bowes Post Office.
Regional News in The Northern Echo Monday, December 1, 2008.
