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A much-loved Coventry postman and woman, and couple, are retiring after 67 years of combined service.
Couple Dave Blanche (41 years a postman) and Sue Waring (26 years a post lady) have always covered the Ash Green post round together.
In fact, they met on the post rounds, and are well-known faces in the Ash Green community.
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The cheerful couple have always gone above and beyond, keeping an eye on elderly residents and even feeding the neighbours’ cats,
So when local residents discovered Dave and Sue were retiring, they threw them a surprise retirement party on Friday, February 18.
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‘I am the only postman they have ever known’
Despite the force of storm Eunice last Friday, the hall at St Giles church just outside of Ash Green was packed with well-wishers, with people queuing outside to get in.
Speaking to CoventryLive on the first day of his retirement, Dave said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked at the turnout, I was overwhelmed by the whole thing, in my speech I didn’t know what to say, it took me completely by surprise!
“Some people were quite heartbroken we were going, they are so used to seeing us, I have done this job in Ash Green for 40 years, I am the only postman they have ever known, which is quite unusual these days.
“I know everyone by their first name, they are not customers but friends.
“I’ve seen kids go to school, secondary school, get their own house and have kids of their own!”
At busy periods like Christmas, the couple would be up at 3.45am to get the post delivered on time, and come rain or shine, were always on time and with a smile.
(Image: Dave Parr)
Dave said he is “quite excited” to slow down and enjoy retired life with Sue, and is looking forward to a good night’s sleep.
But there are things they will miss: “I will miss the summer, when it’s nice and sunny but the worst part is the rain, I have never got used to the rain, most postmen will say that letters are not waterproof!”
‘They both seemed to make your day happier’
Speaking at the party, resident Kate Coyle said: “Many seem to have set their watches to the time the post came through their letterboxes, or it was just to see their cheery smiles and waves.
“By Dave walking around or by Sue in the van, they both seemed to make your day happier. Even passing them in the car you still get a wave – they know our cars as well as our addresses.
(Image: Dave Parr)
“They will be remembered for this but also for the many unmentioned acts of kindness, whether it was feeding the cat at the Shortlands or checking the well-being of elderly residents.”
Dave added: “[Sue and I] met through the post, a lot of people can’t understand how we work together, but I say we’re a team, we’re quite well organised!
“I will miss the people.”
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