POSTAL QUIRKS

As someone who still uses our postal services regularly and collects postcards, I was amused by the article “Out of the past” [FT 422:20]. One comes to dread those clear plastic bags in which the GPO, with a form “apology”, delivers items that have been delayed, displaced, spindled and mutilated. Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine just what has happened – a friend living about 26 miles [42km] away recently sent me a batch of seven vintage postcards in a regular-sized envelope, with my address written correctly on the front and a sender label giving her address on the back. She unexpectedly received back, in one of the dreaded plastic apology bags, the back of her envelope and six of the cards. I received just the neatly detached front of the envelope. The fate of the seventh card may never be uncovered…

In terms of delay, my best example came in August 2021, when over the space of three days I received no fewer than four items, individually bagged up and each dated to 3 October 2011. Presumably they had been trapped in the postal system for nearly 10 years. Three of these were of no great importance, but the fourth had a nice fortean connection. I live in Newcastle upon Tyne, and for the weekend of 17/18 Sept 2011 I had lent my flat (I was away at the time) to Etienne Gilfillan, FT’s Art Director. A friend of his had arranged to take part in the Great North Run but, underestimating the popularity of this race, they had left it too late to book accommodation in the city. They had gone by the time I returned the following week, but Etienne corresponded to tell me that the event had been a great success, with his friend Gareth finishing well. I now know that about a fortnight later Gareth too thanked me, sending me a photographic card showing the finishing line and clearly assuming that it would be delivered before the weekend had become a distant memory. Even over a decade later I was delighted to receive this. Etienne, please say thanks on my behalf!

Gail-Nina Anderson

Newcastle upon Tyne,