Derbyshire’s Mick is the oldest full-time postie in the UK

A Derbyshire great granddad who recently celebrated his 80th birthday has become the oldest full-time delivery postman in the UK.

Mick Gibson, known as “Gibbo” to his mates, started out working in a grocer’s shop, then became a time-served painter and decorator before undertaking a series of other jobs and then eventually joining Royal Mail in 1988.

And for Mick, it has been the best job of all and that is why he still walking anything between 10 and 14 miles a day on his round.

He said: “It’s been a really good job for me. It keeps me fit, I meet lots of really nice people on my rounds and I am delivering in one of the most scenic areas of Derbyshire. It’s good for the mind and body.

“There was a point when I was approaching 65 when I thought I might have to retire. But that didn’t happen and so now it’s hard to see a day when I will retire but realistically I know I will have to at some point.

“I am always saying to the other lads at the office in Bakewell that you never know whether it will be my last Christmas working with them.”

Mick was able to keep working throughout this year, despite the pandemic and two lockdowns.

He said: “It was still very busy. It was almost as if people had more time to write letters.

“We had masks and gloves and there are designated post boxes for Covid testing kits and overall people were really great.

“We would knock to leave a parcel, stand back and people were fine about all of that.

“Of course now is the busiest time with Christmas cards and all the parcels that have be delivered – they really have gone through the roof.”

Mick, who lives near Chesterfield, starts at 7.40am each day and should finish about 2.20pm but in the run up to Christmas he has regularly been finishing later at 5pm.

He said: “I am only a couple of hours at the sorting office, then it’s a case of loading up the van and heading off into the countryside delivering items, meeting people and building up lots of trust on both sides.

“After all, in retirement there is only so much decorating, gardening and fishing you can do – and I hate fishing in cold weather – so working is ideal for me.”

Mick, who has three daughters, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild, was wished well by everyone in Baslow while he was on his round, when they realised it was his 80th birthday.

He said: “Everyone has been lovely and I have even been invited to become a member of the Baslow Senior Citizens Club.”

Royal Mail confirmed Mr Gibson is the oldest full-time delivery person in the UK.