‘Pete the Postie’ celebrates retirement with Leziate, Middleton and Blackborough End residents
Hordes of people gathered to celebrate their loyal postman as he prepared to retire after more than four decades.
After a total of 43 years, Peter Curgenven - affectionately known as ‘Pete The Postie’ - is finally hanging up his mailbag.
Pete, 65, served for five years in his youth before working briefly as a lorry driver - something he had always wanted to do.
He then returned to his postie role and remained there for a further 38 years, vigilantly serving his patch which included Middleton, Blackborough End, Tower End, Leziate and Bawsey.
He developed some special relationship with villagers over the years - and on May 6, a surprise retirement party was held in his honour at Leziate Village Hall.
All 300 households on his round were secretly invited, and around 150 people showed up to help him celebrate the occasion with cakes, tea, presents and speeches.
There was plenty of singing and poetry, while many anecdotes were related regarding his unending patience and helpfulness to all his customers, many of whom regard Pete as a personal friend.
“It just blew me away,” Pete told the Lynn News.
“The job has changed a lot, but I am a people person - so that is what I like about it.
“I am going to miss the people. The people have been kind to me.
“I am very, very humbled by it.”
Now that he is retired, Pete and his wife Verian are planning to hire a camper van and travel around the UK to see as many new sights as they can.