Why a postie from Yorkshire has been picked from 20,000 nominations as one of the UK's kindest
THEY deliver the post to the door - but they are about so much more. And during the pandemic, posties have proved crucial to keeping spirits up for many people stuck at home.
Now a South Yorkshire postwoman has been selected from 20,000 nominations as part of the ‘Thank You Postie’ campaign, which celebrates the posties who have gone above and beyond this year.
Carol Humphreys, a postie for 18 years, has always enjoyed a chat with people on her rounds in Maltby, near Rotherham.
And for one little girl seeing Mrs Humphreys, 63, and having a little dance with her, has been a highlight of lockdown.
Mother Rachael Kent said Mrs Humphreys had been a constant support to her daughter Freya-Rose, six, who has disabilities.
She said: “Throughout the pandemic she has made sure to speak to her every day. She’s played noughts and crosses with her
"A true friendship has formed between them. It’s been amazing to witness and the joy it has brought to my daughter is unforgettable. We really appreciate the extra mile she has gone to in order to bring happiness to my daughter’s life.”
Mrs Humphreys, who was born and brought up in the village, said she was “flabbergasted” but delighted to have been chosen in what had been an awful year after her own daughter, 37, was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer.
She said: “Because of lockdown I saw a lot more of Freya-Rose. Even on days when there was just post going through she’d come to the window and wave and blow kisses.
"I did a little wiggle, so she started doing it back, then it became a thing between us.
"I used to think: ‘I hope no one else is watching us’ but she loved it. What Rachael’s done makes you realise just how wonderful people can be even when you feel at your lowest ebb.
“To be honest, a lot of us posties have felt appreciated during the pandemic - people have left notes on the windows or knocked on the window and given us the thumbs up - more so through the pandemic than in any other year.”
The other winners include “T-Rex” postie Adam Prowse, from Cranbrook, Devon, who received multiple nominations, after doing his rounds dressed as a dinosaur to raise £4,000 for charity.
Then there is Lucy Garlick from Tonteg, Wales, who decided to put a smile on those locked-down at home by donning colourful knee-high socks on her round. She now gets left new socks in letterboxes to try on.
The six winners will soon be getting their own special delivery - of food, drink and gifts from the 5,000 small businesses that sell with notonthehighstreet, which launched the campaign in November.
Ella d’Amato, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer from Notonthehighstreet, said the volume of "incredible" nominations, describing acts of true kindness, had taken them by surprise.
She said: “From helping small businesses continue to run, to being the main – and often only – social interaction for those shielding alone, our posties have truly been the backbone of our nation throughout the pandemic.”