Researching A Postal Worker
Susannah explains how she researched a postman who worked in the south-west of Wales
It is extremely rare to find photographs of Post Office staff with their names attached. So it was a delight to find this picture of Tommy Rees, who is included in the annotated document on page 65. The photo was taken in May 1949 at St Clears, Carmarthen.
Research using The Royal Mail Archive’s family history resources revealed more than one record for a ‘Thomas Rees’ in Carmarthen in the appointment books. The records use formal names and the most likely appointment for Tommy Rees seems to be December 1931. The pension indexes show that a Thomas Rees, a postman in St Clears, Carmarthen, retired in 1953. Unfortunately, the full record of his pension has not survived. Earlier pension records usually contain more details.
However, other records can give a flavour of what working life was like for him. A handwritten entry for St Clears contained in one of our establishment books shows that in the 1930s there were three ‘pn. r’ (postman rural) and four auxiliary (part-time) postmen rural, one cycle allowance, and a medical officer. Furthermore, the Post Office Magazine reveals that in Carmarthen in the late 1940s and early 1950s workers were given ‘Safe Driving’ awards and outdoor staff, such as postmen, held an annual dinner at the Red Lion Hotel. The local postmen also had to contend with letter boxes occupied by bees, birds nesting in them, and even snails gaining entry and eating their way through letters. This research for Tommy Rees gives a good idea of the material that can be found for ancestors who were employed by the Post Office in the mid-20th century.