Town’s touching tribute to Hamish
Callander residents have paid a touching tribute to the longest-serving post office worker in the UK who died recently.
Hamish Menzies suddenly passed away at home on Sunday, April 5, aged 86.
He is survived by wife Marion, son Calum and daughter-in-law Mairi as well as grandchildren Lachie and Morvyn.
Hamish worked in the postal industry for 73 years until his death.
As a mark of respect, the townsfolk took to their doorsteps and stopped in the street to say farewell to the community stalwart.
Hamish’s funeral took place on Friday. The funeral procession set off from the Station Road Post Office and then made its way down Main Street to Callander Cemetery.
Residents applauded as the procession made its way through the heart of the town. The tribute, titled ‘Clap for Hamish,’ was organised by Callander Community Council.
Due to social distancing regulations, mourners had to stand two metres apart, with only 10 people allowed graveside,
Hamish’s son Calum this week told the Observer: “On behalf of the family, I was quite humbled by it all.
“We’d like to thank the Callander community and the community council as well as the funeral directors who gave my dad a very fitting send off.”
Hamish started work at the Post Office as a 15–year–old telegram boy.
Aged 18, he was called up to the Army to do his National Service and was posted to the former West Germany. Whilst there, he found out that telegram boys were posted to the busiest post office for the British Armed Forces.
Following his National Service, Hamish worked for 20 years as a van-driving postie, but for the last 40 years has been the postmaster in the town.
He was also leader of the Hamish Menzies Scots Dance Band.
Community councillor Richard Johnson said: “The clap for Hamish was a time to show how much the community appreciated and respected Hamish. Even with social distancing, there was a huge turnout and there wasn’t a dry eye all the way down the street.
“This week I have been discussing with Stirling Council naming a road in the new Claish Farm housing development after Hamish and the community council has made a formal application for this.
“We have also started organising a ceilidh later this year as a tribute to Hamish. To his great credit, Calum Menzies asked that it could also be in memory of people we have lost due to Covid-19.”