Tributes paid to "the best postman in Cirencester" (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tributes paid to "the best postman in Cirencester"

9:13am Friday 21st September 2012 in News By Laura Shack

HUNDREDS are expected to pay tribute to a popular Cirencester postman who always went the extra mile.

Kenneth Gray was surrounded by his family when he died on Sunday, September 16, just two weeks after he was diagnosed with liver cancer.

The 74-year-old was dearly loved by many, and most of all by his wife Judy, 73, sons Michael and Russell and grandchildren Ben, Adam and Loren.

On Tuesday, hundreds of friends and family are expected to pay their respects to Ken at a funeral service at Cirencester Parish Church, including his 11-year-old grandson Adam who will sing Vera Lyn's We'll Meet Again for granddad "Pat".

From when he first started work at 15-years-old as the last telegram boy to pedal his bike around Cirencester and the local villages, Ken became well known for his caring and fun-loving nature.

And apart from a two-year stint in Germany for his national service, Ken worked happily as Cirencester’s local postie for most of his working life.

Michael, 52, said his dad was such a big hit with the customers that they threw him a garden party when he retired in 1999.

"He always looked out for others and used to do little favours for people on his round, like picking up shopping for the older people," Michael said. "He was a caring, friendly, outgoing guy and always had a joke to tell."

Friend Roy Townsend said that Ken was a “cheeky chappy” who was well known for his humour in Cirencester.

The pair used to do comedy routines when they were younger, along with pal Reggie Launchbury, at the Barton Hall, Bingham Hall and at the British Legion.

Roy said: “We used to do the Beverley Sisters. We used to sing devoted Sisters, made wigs out of flack and used to dress up. I expect we were rubbish but we used to enjoy it.”

He added that Ken was known as “the best postman in Cirencester” and his wife, Judy, was a close second.

All are welcome to attend the funeral service on Tuesday, September 25 from 1pm.