Weare Giffard postman’s memories

As he recalled days when he had had to wade through floods to deliver the mail, Mr Albert Curtis, of 1 Downings Terrace, Weare Giffard, who retired on Friday as postman there, was able to look at a river Torridge reduced almost to a stream by the long dry spell and giving little indication of how rapidly it can rise, flooding meadows, roads and sometimes houses.

On Friday morning at 7 o’clock Mr Curtis, who will be 65 on August 7th, began his round at usual, astride his bicycle (known to him as his iron horse). After delivering through the village, he took the road to Gammaton, completed a circle and returned to Weare Gifford post office just after 12.30.

Mr Curtis, born at Torrington, moved to Weare Giffard in 1921 after marriage and has lived there ever since. In 1925 he went to live in his present home and from 1930-1944 took up duties as relief postman, being called upon to work when the official postman was sick or on holiday. Since 1944 he has been on regular post office duties, and he has served under no less than six different sub-postmasters, the present one being Mr Waterhouse.

Never used to being idle for long, Mr Curtis has had a wide range of interests. He was once a supporter of Torrington AFC. Like his son, Mr Howard Curtis, who has won many trophies at local horticultural shows, he always takes interest in gardening and spends much time cultivating his vegetables.

In the first world war Mr Curtis served in the 1/6th Devons in India and Iraq. Mr and Mrs Curtis’ son, and daughter, Mrs Violet Smart, both live at Weare Giffard. Their niece and nephew, Mr and Mrs Fred Marshall, formerly of Clovelly Road, Bideford, emigrated to New Zealand with their five children in April.

In our photograph Mrs Curtis greets her husband at the end of his last round.

Gazette article dated 4 August 1961