The mail coach guard who ensured the post always got delivered

With the approach of Christmas, you may have some sympathy for postal workers, Amazon van drivers and all the other people bringing your cards and online orders.

- Eugene Byrne

The 'Bristol Mail' passing the Old Dutch House during the 1830s Bristol-produced Christmas card from the 1970s, possibly for the DRG Group. The early 19th century mail coach used to be a popular subject for Christmas cards (thanks to Dave Stephenson for supplying the image)

But however hard they have it, they have it easy compared to the men who worked the mail coaches 200 years ago.On Friday June 10 1892, all of Bristol's “telegraph messengers” (or telegram boys as they'd later be known) were called to a meeting at the Head Post Office on Small Street to meet their new boss.

Mr R.C. Tombs, recently appointed Bristol's Postmaster, had previously been Controller of the London Postal Services, basically London’s Postmaster. In this role he had overseen a period of huge change - the installation of underground telegraph wires, the start of the Post Office telephone service, the inland parcel post service and much more.

The workload had become intolerable and Robert Charles Tombs had suffered some sort of breakdown. His appointment to Bristol was not seen as a demotion, but as a move to a slightly less demanding job for a man whose abilities were greatly valued.

He came to Bristol with the reputation of a popular manager who got things done, and who had the interests of his staff at heart.

That afternoon, he was introduced to the telegraph messengers - the youngsters who actually delivered telegrams to people's doors - and reminded them that in London he had been in charge of the largest force of such lads in the world. He told them he had noticed how only a third of the Bristol boys appeared to have been provided with uniforms, and he was going to do something about this. They would also all be issued with rain capes, and in return he would expect them to smarten their appearances.