A village says goodbye

Saturday will be a sad day for 65-year-old Bert Raybon. That's the day when Bert turns in his Co-operative Society uniform and becomes Mr Albert Raybon, retired.

A bread roundsman with the Tamworth Society for 51 years, Bert has become 'one of the family'to many of his customersand seven days before his retirement a whole village got together to say goodbye.

Housevives from Harlaston, where Bert made his first round in 1915 with a horse and cart, had a collection and last Saturday presented their beaming breadman with a cheque for 13 gns. (guinea's). And as a souveneer, Bert also received a booklet containing all the names of his customers in the village.

They crowded into the street to see the presentations from 77-year-old Mrs Annie Ramsell, one of Bert's oldest customers, and 73-year-old Mrs. Elena Fox. The collection was organised by Mrs. Mary Tiso.

Bert, who lives in Coronation Street, Tamworth, has been regularly delivering bread at Harlaston for the past 16 years.

As a tribute to his long service, the Tamworth Society is presenting him with £3 for every year of his 50 years in the town. The cheque for £150 will be given to him by the chairman of the Society Committe, Mr L. Harper.