PILLAR BOXES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1937, Page 6

PILLAR BOXES

AN EMPLOYEE’S RETIREMENT

LONDON, September 10

For 48 years Mr Alfred M lest, of Tottenham'' has been painting London red. Piccadilly or the Strand, in fact the whole of Central London—it has been all the same to Mr West. Since he was 22 lie has been permanently employed by the Post Office as a. pillarbox painter. And the other day, on his 70th birthday, he retired. “1 reckon I’ve painted 40,000 of them, said Mr West. “I’ve dreamed of pillar-boxes. And now I’m going to forget about them. J have never known what it is to have a headache. But then, you see, I’ve always led a regulated life. Early to bed and early to rise : —that has been iny motto. “I was up at five every morning, winter and summer, but I took jolly good care to he hi bed by 9.30, L had two alarm clocks. That was just to make sure I got to work punctually. No mistake about it, you have got to get up with two of tiiose things.”

It was his painter’s hag that worried him a little toward the end. He found it, at 69, a bit heavy, with three kettles of paint and all the rest of his paraphernalia. “So now I’m looking for a Tighter job.” he s'aid.