Cheshire West postie celebrates 50 years ‘first-class’ service

Joe Piotrowski walked the same Locke estate round for 30 of those years, witnessing families have children, then watching those have children of their own.

“And they’ve watched him go from young man to Tin Man,” said Joe’s wife, Jackie Piotrowski.

“They all joke I have to WD40 him before he goes off to work in the morning.”

Joe, who's not one for the limelight, now does a mostly rural round in the Arley area. 

While the houses are much further apart, it means the 73-year-old has less walking to do as he’s in an electric van.

On Saturday, July 27, colleagues at the Northwich Delivery Office threw a surprise party, 50 years to the day since he delivered his first letter.  

Jackie, a former Northwich postie herself and very much in on the plan, added: “Bless him, I don’t think he had a clue.

Joe said he would retire when he old high-top van was replaced with an electric one, but he now thinks 'it's the best thing since sliced bread' (Image: Jackie Piotrowski)

“They sent him out with a made-up special delivery so they could set it all up.

"They said no one else would know the address, but he was still umming and ahing.

“Everyone was lined up when he came back to wish him all the best. He had no idea I was going to be there.

“What an achievement to do fifty years in the same job, but I suppose it’s easier when you enjoy it.

“He just loves being out in all that beautiful countryside and knows all the people and all the dogs.

“When I started at Royal Mail it was a very male-dominated workplace.

Joe's daughter, Sarah, used to enjoy rides in the basket of his postie bike (Image: Jackie Piotrowski)

“Joe and I used to share our rounds when I was getting to know the areas, and I lost two stone trying to keep up with him.

“He’d always be back at the car before me, waiting.

“What I didn’t know at the times was, he used to give me more than my fair share.

“But when I started to get to know him better, I realised he was a really good person.

Joe's daughter ... 29, probably prefers the electric van to the bike these days (Image: Jackie Piotrowski)

“He’s always been a hard worker and an excellent provider, never turning down overtime when he could get it.

“He’s been threatening to retire for years. When they brought in PDAs, he said ‘that’s it – I’ll never get the hang of it’.

“He said the same thing when they brought in the electric vans. Next thing, they’re the best thing since sliced bread.

“I do think he'll retire this year though, but he’s not quite ready to hang up his hi-vis just yet.”

Joe's colleagues at Northwich Delivery Office sent him off on a bogus special delivery to get the place ready for his 50th anniversary bash (Image: Jackie Piotrowski)

Steve Parry, customer operations manager at Royal Mail’s Northwich Delivery Office, said Joe is ‘a legend in his own right’.

He added: “Reaching 50 years’ service is no mean feat, especially considering the physical demands of the role.

His local knowledge is outstanding and he’s often seen advising colleagues where to find the most obscure addresses.

“Joe's dependability means he's highly respected by all his colleagues, and his professionalism is an example to be led by.

“He deserves the utmost praise for his dedication to his customers."