Mattie Davis first to drive a post office van in Drogheda in 1925
I OFTEN come across the hard working postal workers around town, some on their bikes, but I wondered, who was the very first postman to drive a van in Drogheda and when was it?
A bit of research later and I might have the answer.
That honour fell on Mattie Davis from Beechgrove who joined the post office at the age of 14 as a junior postman in 1920.
When he turned 19, he got behind the wheel of the town’s first mail van in 1925. His pay in his early days was 6/- a week. During his 47 years with the Post Office Mattie was only late for work once -and that was due to an electric storm.
He retired in 1967 and at his retirement do - where he got a silver tea service - he explained the reason why. ‘My electric alarm clock failed to go off at 5am and I arrived 45 minutes late,’ he said.
The Chairman of the function. Mr. Michael Eagleton said he had known Mattie for close on twenty years and it was an honour and a pleasure to work with him.
Mr. Brian O’Hare, Postmaster, declared ‘He’s a man we’ll never be able to replace.”
Mr. Paschal Condra, Secretary, Drogheda Outdoor Branch, POWU, said Mattie was a union man for over 40 years.
Others to join in the tributes were: Mr. Sean Murray .(Overseer) ; Mr. James Gargan (Postal Sorter); Sean Farrelly (Sub’Postmaster, Ardee): Mr.Paddy Carolan (Postal Sorter) and Miss Rose McKenna (on behalf of telephonists).