I started delivering telegrams by bicycle in 1950. I worked throughout Ferndale and Maerdy. The girls in the Post Office used to take the telegram messages over the phone in a little room and then pass them to the delivery boys.

We could tell which ones were the birthday or wedding telgrams because of the envelope. If it was bad news, the girl would shake her head as she handed over the envelope.

When we delivered the telegram we would ask, 'is there an answer?' If they did want to answer I'd have to go into the house with them and count the words of the reply to estimate the cost of the telegram. I'd often offer to cut words out to make it cheaper. I sometimes got a sixpence tip for doing that.

If a wedding was going on I'd march into the reception, shake hands with the groom, hand the telegrams to the best man and kiss the bride. That was a great Saturday job.