AFFECTIONALLY dubbed “Billy Whizz” after delivering mail on one of Exmoor’s most remote rounds for over 30 years, postman Bill Daughtrey received a surprise send-off when he delivered his last post to Wootton Courtenay on his retirement earlier this month.

Residents gathered outside the village post office to present Bill with gifts and a cheque and wish him a long and happy retirement.

The 50-mile Porlock and Wootton Courtenay round takes in remote farms and houses on the moor and is one of the most challenging in bad weather.

Bill’s nickname came from his fitness as a successful veteran Iron Man endurance race competitor and cyclist – he has successfully tackled some of the most severe peaks of the Tour de France course.

Retired diplomat and Wootton Courtenay resident Sir Roger Carrick said: “Bill will be greatly missed. He was the ultimate postman, would happily help anyone, and created many friends.

“In bad weather he managed to persuade his van to go where no-one else could, and continually triumphed over the elements to get the mail to the most far-flung customers.”

Bill says he was not expecting the surprise send-off: “I suspected something was afoot, but nothing like that. I have to admit I got a bit emotional.”

Bill, who lives in Minehead, started his Post Office career in London but after meeting his wife, who is from Porlock, when he was on holiday, decided on a permanent move to West Somerset in 1989.

“I’ve enjoyed it and have made a lot of friends. In the early days people out on the moor would invite you in for a chat and a cup of tea and even give you breakfast - you were probably the only visitor they saw all day.

“You couldn’t do that today because there are computers in the van that monitor how long you stop!”