James Brokenshire MP with postman Gary Talbot

James Brokenshire delivers mail in Sidcup

Robin Cottle, Reporter Friday, June 22, 2012
5:09 PM

James Brokenshire MP gave Sidcup residents first class treatment while helping out at the local post office today.

The Old Bexley and Sidcup MP joined Gary Talbot, a postman with 25 years experience, to start his round at the Sidcup High Road office.

Delivery office manager Darren Ager said: “The visit gave us the opportunity to show Mr Brokenshire how we are modernising the service.

“In the south-east we have invested over £9 million in new automation and delivery equipment for our postmen and women. We are delivering more parcels and fewer letters than ever before and the tools of the job need to reflect that.”

The purpose of the exercise was to give MPs an insight into the challenges facing the Royal Mail of delivering to every house and business in the constituency six days a week.

Mr Brokenshire was one of the first politician in Kent to take part in this new exercise last Friday (June (22).

He said: “Postmen and women perform an incredibly important function. They are one of the institutes in our society which binds us together.

“I wanted to get a real understanding of the work that goes into delivering the mail on a daily basis. There can be no better way of getting that insight than getting out there with a postman. I was just glad I could keep up!”