Postcard arrives at Grimsby home 29 years after it was originally sent

A Grimsby man has spoken of his shock and amusement after a postcard arrived at his home that was sent 29 years ago.

Tom Parker, of Church Lane, Bradley, received the mail at his home last week that had originally been sent to the address 29 years prior, and three years before he actually moved into his home.

The card was originally sent on August 28, 1990 from Brecon in North Wales, and was addressed to a Ms Clara Gale, who is understood to have lived in the house until 1990, before she was moved to a care home.

The postcard was sent to the woman by her niece Suzie and her partner Brian, while they were enjoying a holiday at a campsite in Wales.

The postcard says: “Dear Aunty Clara, this is the view we have from our campsite in Wales.

“The weather has now turned out lovely and the people and surrounding areas are very nice.

“Lots of love Suzie and Brian”.

Tom Parker, who now lives in the house where the postcard was sent, said that he was shocked and amused to receive the card 29 years after it should have arrived at its destination.

He has lived at the house for 26 years and has never met the lady who lived there before him.

He said: “It was very surprising to receive this postcard last week, I can’t believe that it was originally sent 29 years ago.

“I honestly can’t think about what the hold up might have been, it could have been sitting there in some old postie’s bag and only just been found, or perhaps it got lost in the system.

“I know that Ms Gale used to live here before me and had to give up her house as she was moving to a care home, but we have never actually met.

“I understood that she had very little family and only had a niece, so this must be her that has sent the postcard.

“I really hope that we can track down the lady who sent the card and show her that it eventually got here in the end, even if it is 29 years late.”

​A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “It is difficult to speculate what may have happened to this item of mail, but it is likely that it was put back into the postal system by someone recently, rather than it being lost or stuck somewhere.

“Royal Mail regularly checks all its delivery offices and clears its processing machines daily. Once an item is in the postal system then it will be delivered to the address on the card.”​​

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