22-04-2020

Postwoman Ali Garbutt is continuing to deliver mail to one of Wales’ most remote - and also most scenic - postal routes throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. A local farmer’s daughter, Ali has lived in the local area her entire life. Having worked as a postwoman for 11 years, she has served the Abergynolwyn route for five of those and is a pillar of the rural and tight-knit, local community. The mail continues plays a very important role in this area as mobile phone signals are intermittent given the remoteness of the location.

In most communities of the UK, Royal Mail continues to deliver a near normal service, six days a week. Ali’s delivery route is no exception to that.

Ali’s daily delivery round gives her a view of some of the UK’s most inspirational landscapes as well as the occasional heart-stopping close up of a fighter jet. The 50-mile postal route covers a combination of rugged mountains, lakes and is one of the busiest parts of the UK for low flying jets on practice missions.

As part of her daily postal round, Ali passes through the valley of Cader Idris, the 1,995 ft mountain surrounding the area, and crosses the scenic Tal y Llyn lake.

The delivery route also passes Castell y Bere castle, which was built by a Welsh prince Llewelyn the Great in the 1220s, and Mach Loop, an area where RAF planes regularly fly as low as 250 ft during training exercises. The area attracts a number of plane spotters, particularly during the summertime, when most of the flights occur.

Ali Garbutt, Royal Mail postwoman commented: “While of course it’s strange delivering mail in these unusual times, more than ever, I feel so appreciated by this local remote community.

“When I’m out on my route, I can enjoy the spectacular landscape while interacting with the wonderful local people, at a distance, who I’ve known all my life. There’s nothing else quite like it.”

Gary Davies, Delivery Office Manager said: “We are extremely proud of Ali, and of all postmen and women who are working hard to deliver the country’s mail. At a time when many businesses and retailers have had to reluctantly close their doors, people like Ali are helping to keep the wheels of commerce moving.

“Ali is a real credit to the company. Her service is hugely appreciated by us and by the community she serves.”

Source: Royal Mail 

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