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Mr & Mrs R J Downing
"You may as well do your work pleasantly"
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It is not often that bouquets and messages of appreciation are received by public servants, but it is pleasing to know, that after many years’ service as sub-Postmaster at Higham Ferrers, sincere expressions of appreciation have been made concerning Mr. R. J. Downing.
At the meeting of the Higham Ferrers Town Council on Monday, reference was made to the valuable services of Mr. Downing, in a letter from the Clerk to the Council to the Postal Authorities, and it was stated that the matter would be suitably brought to the notice of those concerned.
Many reminiscences, writes a representative of this journal, could be told by one of Higham Ferrers’ most respected residents, Mr. Richards John Downing, the post-master – if only he could find time to tell them!
I asked him when would be the most convenient time to interview him, and the reply was that I could not see him that evening or till after 10 o’clock the next morning. Even then I found him busily engaged in his duties.
27 Years Ago
Mr. Downing came to Higham Ferrers 27 years ago, when al the transport work was done by horse and trolley. There were three deliveries from Wellingborough, but during the war they were decreased to two, and the other one has never been put back. Now the horses have been replaced by motors, which greatly increase the work to be done in the space of time.
As the years have slipped by the amount of work inside the post office has slowly but surely increased with the various allowances and pensions, the army allowances, savings certificates, old age pensions, contributory pension, and C.O.D.
The post office used to employ three full-time men, but since the war the staff has dropped to two part-time men and one with a motor cycle for rural deliveries. Also the time is not long passed when it was a walking duty for a postman to take the mails to the railway station at Irthlingborough.
Postal Career Since 1872
Mr Downing laughingly said that the increase of work was not due to the state of trade. His motto is: You may as well do your work pleasantly, as not, and then things will go smoothly.” This is brought to the front when one reviews his popularity in the town.
While in Higham Ferrers Mr and Mrs Downing have regularly attended the St. Mary’s Church, and Mr Downing held the office of sidesman for many years until it began to overlap with his official duties.
Mr Downing began work at Pinner, Middlesex, in 1872, where he worked for seven years. His services there were recognised by the Post Office and he was transferred as Postmaster in one of the London Offices. Wealdstone, near Harrow, was the next milestone on the way.
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