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VILLAGERS have been left dismayed after an award-winning postie who has served Kingseat for more than three years was removed from his round.
As the Press reported just last month, the community had been celebrating after Alan Petrie won the notonthehighstreet ‘Thank You Postie’ campaign thanks to their nominations.
Just a few weeks later, they learned he had been transferred to another round.
Now, villagers are taking action and appealing for Royal Mail to reverse the decision.
Fiona Martin, of Lochview Cattery, has written to the depot manager in Dunfermline and is encouraging others to follow suit.
She told the Press: “Alan Petrie has been with the Kingseat community for over three years and is a very much-loved individual.
“I’m finding it difficult to understand why he needs to move. This guy works over and above the call of duty, he loves his job and his community.
“He knows most of the locals and more so the majority of the dogs and children.
“If one of the elderly villagers became unwell or needed help, Alan would notice and this is very reassuring for the rest of the community.”
Big-hearted Alan won the hearts of Kingseat through his efforts during lockdown. The dad-of-three organised epic games of noughts and crosses and hangman on the doors of cooped-up householders as well as running the odd message for them in his own time.
He also provided an all-important familiar face to those who have been isolated.
Fiona added: “The children have looked forward to seeing Alan (at a distance) and playing the games they have left on the door.
“Having spoken to a lot of the people in the village they are extremely annoyed and disappointed.
“I generally let events slide as change always happens in life but on this occasion, I feel very strongly about Alan’s removal from the Kingseat postal round.
“Alan is a very important part of our community, especially at the moment. This is a time when we need normality.
“The people, children and animals will be deeply disappointed not having our local ‘man in red’.
“Alan is a great character and always has a smile for everyone, he is a family man and ‘our’ postie.
“I and the Kingseat community would be grateful if the Royal Mail would reconsider their decision and let Alan stay on his Kingseat round.”
Anne Clayton, who is in her 80s, is one of more elderly residents on Alan’s round.
She said: “He waits patiently for me to get to the door when there is a parcel and he is so helpful.
“We know he watches out for us. He’s such a pleasant young man – we have got to know him and he’s got to know us.”
Kirstin Clyne, a frontline nurse working at the Victoria Hospital, added: “My children are in primary school so they would play games with him and he took the time to get to know everybody by name.
“He always takes the time to chat and ask how you are, so it was upsetting to hear that he was being moved for some unknown reason.
“We all need some normality especially when we’ve gone into another lockdown again.”
A Royal Mail Spokesperson said: “Alan is a highly-valued member of our Dunfermline team and is held in high regard by his customers.
“Due to an expansion in his role, this will mean he will now cover several areas within the Dunfermline Delivery Office area.
“We have many excellent employees at our Dunfermline site and one of those will shortly be allocated to the Kingseat area to continue Alan’s great work.”
