Walter is a charity dynamo

Walter, I hear you are a very busy man. Is it true you were a Postman?

No, I was a Post Master.

Oh right!

But I wasn't just a Post Master, you know. I was a secretary of the Northern Ireland Post Office Clerks Association in Omagh and a member of the Londonderry branch and I was a branch secretary in my time.

When did you first take up employment in the Post Office?

On July 15, 1939. I was a boy messenger delivering telegrams and worked at that until March 1942. At that time I passed the Civil Service exam and I came second in Northern Ireland, and went on to work as a sorting clerk and telegraphist in Londonderry until May 1942 and then I moved to Omagh.

What did you do in Omagh?

I was a sorting clerk and telegraphist there too and then in October 1944 I went to Londonderry again as a postal clerk and telegraphist. So I started in the Post office first in 1942 and that's 70 years ago. It's a long time. I was in the union of the Post Office Workers back then in 1942 and I ended up as chairman over all those groups, you know? At the moment I am chairman of the National Federation of the Post Office and BT pensioners in the north west.

So you are still involved quite heavily then Walter?

Still involved, surely.

Some of your friends are fit to tell me that you have done a lot of charity work as well in your life. Do you want to tell me about that Walter?

At the moment I am sponsoring a child in the Gambia. I've been sponsoring a child since 1982. It costs me about 17 a month. I'm also a member of the North West Historical Society. We go out and see places and investigate graveyards and have guest speakers and that. I am also a member of the Ulster Scots Language Society and although we don't meet very regularly it's very good. I find it interesting. I also joined the Presbyterian Historical Society in 1977 and I am still a member of that group too.

Right, Walter. Were you ever in the Boys Brigade or the Scouts?

Well, I am the assistant Secretary of the Londonderry Battalion of the Boys' Brigade Old Boys. I've been a member of that from 1989 and I am still a member today and in 1994 I was chairman.

Can I ask you what age you are Walter?

I'm 85.

So you really are an 'old boy' then, aren't you?

(Laughs). Yes. I became Assistant Secretary in 2008 and I've been Assistant Secretary since then. And I've been chairman of Strabane Road Safety Committee, but don't worry about that.

Why?

You aren't going to print all this are you?

Yes, I am...are there any other groups you've worked with?

Well, I was a volunteer and counsellor between 1994 and 2005 for the Northern Ireland Victim Support and was appointed a director of Strabane Enterprise Agency in 1994, which I have done to date. Do you know it, the Enterprise Agency?

Yes, I've heard of it.

I've also served as a director with the Community Work Programme, which focuses on getting people into programmes of work and especially for women who have left the workplace because of having children. Strabane CWP was established in May 1995 and has to date assisted more than 1,700 people to access employment or training opportunities. Approximately 400 people have secured permanent employment as a result of participation on one of our programmes with many more advancing to further training or work experience opportunities. I've been a director of that for about 15 years.

Anything else?

I am a member of the Rotary Club of Strabane/Lifford. I joined in 1983 and was president in 1990/91. I've been the records officer since 1991.

What does that entail?

I keep records like the attendance record.

Oh right.

One of the honours I got from the Rotary Club was that I was made a Paul Harris Fellow in 1995. That's the name of the fellow that founded the Rotary Club.

What did you get it for?

For all my work in the Rotary Club. I got in 1995. I am a member of the Ulster Unionist Party. They wanted me to do all sorts of things for them, but I was too busy.

You're not joking Walter! I don't think I've ever met a pensioner who is more active than you. Is that the lot?

No. I am chairman of the Ballymagorry and District Development Association.

Walter I have been told that you also went to Africa, is that right?

I was in the Zambia for seven years.

Why did you go there?

There was all sorts of reasons, but one reason was I went there to train Africans to take over the Post Office in Zambia. Then it was Northern Rhodesia. It only became Zambia in 1964 or something like that. My family went out and we stayed there seven years and returned home then.

What brought you home Walter?

Well, if I'd stayed there any longer I would have lost my job in Great Britain. After the seven years I already clocked up 25 years...

Tell me this, did you ever come across any instances of smuggling in your time in the Post Office?

I used to 'smuggle' cigarettes.

What?

I smoked very heavily. I did a lot of smuggling cigarettes between Strabane and Lifford. They were cheap and that's where you went to get them. That's about the only thing I did...I wasn't really smuggling...

how did you learn shorthand?

I taught myself and sat in front of the news practicing and took some classes.

Very good. Not many people can do that. I have led a very full life and all I'm trying to do is give a little back to the community.

Do you like doing charity work?

I do.

What's your favourite?

(Thinks quietly for a moment) The children in Africa. Whenever I was out in Africa the children there were very very poor. Whenever I came back I sponsored a child. It is not just the child that benefits, it's the wider community. I have sponsored a child for 20 odd years, only that child has grown up and there are other ones I am sponsoring.

You obviously enjoy what you do.

Always did, and I am still enjoying it.