Postmaster, Ivor Howell, Stone

Description:Mr W Butler (Head Postmaster of Stafford) is pictured presenting farewell gifts of a silver tea tray and a table cigarette lighter to Mr Ivor Howell (Stone Postmaster), who is leaving the district to take up a new appointment at Feltham, Middlesex. Also in the picture left to right are: Mr T Humphreys (Assistant Postmaster) and Mr W B Anderson (Secretary of the Stone branch of the Union of Post Office Workers). The presentation was made by Mr W Butler at a dinner organised by the Stone branch of the Union of Post Office Workers, which was held at the Unicorn Hotel, Stone, on the evening of Saturday 7 April.

Paying tribute to Mr Howell, Mr R W Palmer (Principal) of the Post Office Central Training School (CTS) at Yarnfield said that he had increased the efficiency of the Post Office in Stone a great deal and added that he had that very essential quality of leadership which had served him in good stead during his stay in Stone. He wished Mr and Mrs Howell on behalf of the students and staff of the CTS, every success in their new appointment. Making the presentation Mr Butler said that Mr Howell had served the Stone area well. He made decisions himself without consulting anyone and a great deal had been achieved by Mr Howell in making arrangements for postal services in parts of the town which had sprung up in the last six years. He added that there is still a great deal for his successor to do.

Mr Howell thanked everyone for their tributes. His success in Stone had been due to the excellent staff he had had and he went on to urge post office workers to take a keen and active part in union affairs. He said he had served under every type of government and not one of them has come and said here’s and extra shilling. He said everything that we have gained has been got by the various trade unions within the Post Office Service, through endless negotiation.

This article was published in the Stone Guardian on Saturday 14 April 1956.