Fond farewell to Cirencester postman (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fond farewell to Cirencester postman

RESIDENTS in Cirencester clubbed together to give retired postman Mark Brazier a proper send off on Saturday.

And the 65-year-old also had a surprise visit from his daughter Nicola, who flew over from the United States especially to join him on his final round.

Mr Brazier, who has been delivering letters in the Watermoor area of Cirencester for nearly 20 years, was given a fond farewell by scores of local residents.

Flora Bailey, who lives in Chester Street, organised a collection for him, while Nicola says it was overwhelming to see well-wishers calling from windows and coming out onto the street to wish her father all the best for his retirement.

Flora said: "We are going to miss him dreadfully - everybody had something nice to say about Mark and it was wonderful."

Nicola added: "It was an important day for my father - it was very hard for him to say goodbye to the people on his route."

A former engineer, Mr Brazier says he was astonished at the amount of people who wished him a happy retirement.

He said: "I am looking forward to enjoying more time with my family, but I have been very happy in my job. I have had two totally different jobs, one indoors, the other outdoors - both with their good points and bad ones. It's been great."