Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP Gets First Class Experience as She Turns Postman for the Day

Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP got to see just what’s involved in delivering the post when she joined local postman Gregg Butcher on his delivery round in Peterhead this morning.

Eilidh Whiteford is one of the first of a number of Scottish MPs and MSPs being invited to go out with postmen and women across Scotland to see the lengths Royal Mail goes to, to deliver the post. 

Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP with
Peterhead postman Gregg Butcher

The purpose of the visits over the summer is to give each MP or MSP a unique insight into the challenges of delivering mail to every house and business in their constituency, six days a week.

Royal Mail Sector and Delivery Manager Bill Tulloch who briefed Dr Whiteford before she set off on his walk said: 

“We’re delighted that Eilidh Whiteford is taking the time to experience the every day challenges faced by our delivery postmen and women.

“The visit gave us the opportunity to show Dr Whiteford how we are modernising the organisation. We are investing £59 million in Scotland across three years for new sorting and delivery equipment as we respond to the changing nature of the modern postbag. We are delivering more parcels and fewer letters than ever before and the tools for the job need to reflect that.”

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Postmen and women perform an incredibly important function in our communities, not just delivering communication, but being one of the institutions in society that binds us together for the common good.

“I wanted to get a real understanding of the work that goes into delivering the mail on a daily basis.  There can be no better way of getting that insight than actually going out and doing the job alongside a delivery postman.  I am very grateful to local postman Gregg Butcher who delivers to customers in Peterhead for letting me join him on his round in the Town Centre today.

“Gregg was very tolerant of the intrusion into his job and it was a pleasure to work alongside him on part of his daily route.”

Royal Mail is currently reviewing and modernising its operation, which means every part of the process from collecting, transporting, sorting and delivering the mail is being improved to increase efficiency.