LOTHIAN

Beneath the Forth Bridge on a bitterly cold morning, we search for a single shot that captures the essence of Edinburgh. Built in the 1880s, this imposing railway bridge is one of many pieces of arresting architecture punctuating the city skyline.

“Enjoying the Scottish weather?” laughs postie Wayne Hayles as he spots quivering hands clutching camera and notebook. Wayne moved to Edinburgh from the north east of England eight years ago.

Moving Story

“I love the people here. They’re really proud of the area and they’re great storytellers.”

As he shares his own stories, it’s clear he’s bought into Lothian life. “The community. For me, it’s essential. This job is all about connecting with people.”

Maybe he was destined to spend his working life as a postie, having grown up in Chester-le-Street, helping his dad at weekends with deliveries on his mobile fruit and veg van. But even when he’s not on his round, Wayne thinks ‘community first’.

In 2017, he channelled his passion for film into his own community cinema in his village of Kelty, with the help of National Lottery and Creative Scotland funding. Working with a group of 10 local volunteers, he organises regular screenings to bring people together.

The sunrise shift

Before we find ourselves bridge side, it’s an early start at Edinburgh Delivery Office, where we meet postie Stuart Love – union rep, workplace coach and a pretty good judge of what it takes to pull on our iconic red uniform.

“A lot of people come in and think it’s just like a paper round,” he says. “But those who last are the ones who appreciate how much hard work it is.”

Certainly not afraid of the graft is 17-yearold Emiliano Rama, who joined the business in September on the Postal Apprenticeship Scheme. Until he passes his driving test, his day starts at 5am as he makes the 90-minute journey to the office by train and tram.

“It was a shock to the system at first,” he says. “But it quickly taught me not to expect it to be an easy job and that it’s important to put in the hard work.”

Emiliano joined Royal Mail on the recommendation of his stepdad, a mail centre manager.

“It felt like a good career option. I look around and see lots of people who have been here so long. This tells you there must be something about the job.”

Airside experience

You don’t have to venture too far up the road to see this experience in action at Edinburgh’s Parcelforce depot. Andy O’Meara will be marking

30 years with the business in June and, having done almost every role on the rota, now finds himself taking daily trips to drop parcels onto FedEx cargo.

He runs the lesser-known Global Express product for Edinburgh, making sure that around 15 to 20 parcels are sent on a nextday service abroad.

“It’s a very good service when you consider parcels can get to the USA overnight,” says Andy. “I’ve been doing this for 11 years and I’ve seen just about every

“I enjoy the idea of being part of a change in the workforce and love it when I’m out and hear little girls in the street shout ‘There’s the post lady’.”