General Post Office
(GPO)
Recalling the history of the British Post
Office... |
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When I was about 10 years
old, I was fascinated by a library book by Nancy Martin. It
was 'The Post Office: From Carrier Pigeon to Confravision.'
My father worked for the Post Office as a Telephonist and so
the GPO played a very important part in my formative
years.
Here are a few pages dedicated to the memories of the
British Post Office, a solid reliable institution, in the
days before privatisation and competition.
Book cover: The Post Office by Nancy
Martin - From Carrier Pigeon to Confravision. (Dent 1969). |
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Introduction
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The General Post Office (GPO)
was once a key communications provider of postal and
telephone services, which also operated Government backed
savings accounts. Surprisingly, the services offered in the
early 21st century are remarkably similar, but the
organisation has changed many times over. 'Light Straw's GPO
Pages' attempt to capture the spirit of the bygone times and
to recall just some of the history behind a mainstay of the
British way of life. |
History & Organisation |
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An Introduction to the POST OFFICE - A training booklet
December 1959.
This handbook is to welcome you into the Post
Office, to give you a general idea of its varied and widespread
activities, and to show you briefly, how best you can contribute
your share in its service to the public. You will know from your
own experience how much better such service is if it is smartly
and cheerfully given. You will now have many opportunities to
play your part in this way both as an individual and as a member
of a team.. |
Banking:
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Post
Office Savings Bank, including ERNIE the Premium Bond
computer. And later the people's bank, National Giro.
Images: POSB poster and
National Giro logo.
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Media:
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The GPO Film Unit transferred
to the Central Office of Information (COI) and produced
commissioned documentaries for the Post Office.
Images: COI film title and GPO
Film Unit booklet. |
Postal:
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Royal Mail delivering the
post, and Telegrams.
Post Office Counters transacting business.
Photos: A local DO and WHS PO
counter.
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Post Office Supplies:
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Post Office Factory Division (Fac D), together with Her
Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) equipped the GPO.
Images: Studd Street stores ©
BT Heritage. An S.O. book. |
GPO Telephones: Timeline
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Royal Mail origins...
And timeline of General Post Office/Post Office Telephones,
British Telecom, BT and Openreach...organisation and
liveries.
Photo: GPO Telephones - A
complete picture © Light Straw Archive 2000. |
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GPO Clock Systems Documentation:
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GPO Clock Systems...
Simon Taylor collates all of the available documentation and
surviving diagrams.
Photo: GPO Clock Systems
Documentation. |
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Transport:
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Mail by Road, Mail by Rail.
Photo: Mailvan and Travelling
Post Office © Light Straw Archive. |
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My GPO Family (Books)
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A retrospective snapshot of living in the Public Service of the GPO and
BT...
Paperback books now available to buy
direct.
Scans: Front covers of
the My GPO
Family series of books. |
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Light-Straw. Beta holding page updated 24 May
2021.
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and are used on the Light Straw site(s) for review only. Students and
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to the accuracy of the information contained therein. |