ONCE upon a time, back in my youth, I was a Daily Echo paper boy.

So heaving a big sack on to my back was nothing new for me.

However when I discovered just how heavy it was, and that it was filled with hundreds of letters and packages which all have to go to different homes and businesses, I realised I was going to have my work cut out.

This was my introduction to the unsung heroes of Christmas.

If you are up early enough each morning, you will see them in their fleet of red vans getting ready to deliver the post and packages to hundreds of thousands of people across Hampshire.

The festive period is undoubtedly peak time for this operation.

So I signed up to help out for the morning at the Royal Mail’s busy Eastleigh delivery office.

Each day during December about 100,000 items are delivered by a hardworking team of 87 postmen and women doing the rounds in the Eastleigh, Chandler’s Ford and North Baddesley areas – double the workload of any other time.

Introducing me to the job was postman Dave Spurrier, who has been out doing the rounds in Eastleigh since 1979.

Tasked with a van full of post, he has some job on his hands. He delivers to 125 firms in Boyatt Wood Industrial Estate and hundreds of homes in Tinning Way.

Daily Echo:
Postman Mark Wilson loads up his van

According to Dave who is a dad of five, he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

His day sees him start at 6.45am and finish at 4.40pm; he seemed in his element out on the road and talking to customers who gave him a friendly smile.

The job has changed a lot over the years. Steve remembers when he started he used to carry the post and travel by bike and there were only 12 vans at the Royal Mail office.

He said: “I do not want to do anything else to be honest. I didn’t even want a promotion. I like being outside and meeting people. There is nothing stressful about it. It is just a good job.”

As we ventured from delivery to delivery, it became easy to see why he was so good. He was organised, cheerful and he enjoyed it.

Daily Echo:

Bob Bagley sorts through the Christmas mail

As I expected there was a lot of walking involved and it was pretty tiring.

But there was a great feeling of satisfaction every time I handed over a package or an envelope knowing that it was something important that somebody has been waiting for – it could even be something that would make their Christmas complete.

Back at base I called in to see Royal Mail line manager Steve Thompson, who has helped to organise the festive effort for seven years.

He revealed that most of the planning is done at Easter – and the chances of a postie taking holiday in December is as rare as snow in June.

Steve said: “The amount that people have to do goes up and the time to do it stays the same.

“Well organised people know what they’re doing, but, we only do this once a year, for three weeks of the year.

“We have new starters, doing their first Christmas here and we have people who have done lots of Christmases, everyone gets on with the job.”

Daily Echo:

Jan Culver sorts through the Christmas mail

And it’s not just delivering that postmen have to worry about.

One of their first jobs before going out on their rounds is sorting the post, this usually takes at least two hours. One thing they are seeing more of is packages, due to online shopping.

Steve is under no illusion about the difficulties of the mammoth operation of Christmas, but is pleased that 98 per cent of the post reaches its destination on time.

He added: “Mistakes can be made but if the post gets out to us we will get it out that day.

“We are passionate about getting mail out to the customers on time, we all know it’s hard work at this time of year, but we stick together and get on with it.

“There is lots of team work going on and they all know what they’re doing.”

Looking after the wellbeing of staff is office manager Claire Smirthwaite.

She said: “Everyone just has to knuckle down, they get an extra bonus at Christmas time.

“They will be absolutely shattered by Christmas Eve.”