Monday, April 30, 2012

The Sun

Garden shed is a first class post office

Steve Knight with his shed transformed into a 1950s post office
Manning his Post ... Steve Knight with his shed transformed into a 1950s post office
Eastnews Press Agency
Published: 26th April 2012

AN AVID stamp collector is in the running for Shed of the Year — after he transformed his garden hut into a fully-functioning post office.

Steve Knight has been mad about all things postal since he was a lad and soon found that his collection was taking over the small building.

The 50-year-old came up with the novel solution of transforming it into a traditional 1950s post office, complete with original signs, scales, stamps and uniforms.

The 56ft shed is also fully wired for electricity and includes its own telephone line connected to the national network through a vintage 1937 telephone exchange.

Scales in a shed transformed into a 1950s post office
Weighing up ... original scales
Eastnews Press Agency

Steve — who has restored the items to their original working order — explained: “I’ve always been a keen stamp collector but I started collecting letter boxes around 14 years ago and it just grew from there.

“I now have 115 of them dotted around the garden.

“After years of collecting — and thanks to donations from people whose family worked in the postal service — I realised I had everything needed to create a replica of a 1950s post office.

Steve Knight's post office shed
Post man ... Steve in his 'post office'
Eastnews Press Agency

“That’s when I began restoring the items and opened my post office shed to the public.”

The dad-of-two, from Halstead, Essex, has already spent more than £15,000 on his hobby despite hundreds of donations from local enthusiasts.

He added: “We have open days throughout the year where children can dress up in the uniforms, try out the ink stamps and experience what it was like to be a telegram messenger.

Steve Knight with his shed transformed into a 1950s post office
Shedding light on his obsession ... Steve's collection
Eastnews Press Agency

“In the 1950s telegram messengers would start as young as 14 years old so it’s a real eye-opener for the younger kids.”

Steve’s quirky cabin has now earned him a nomination for the Shed of the Year at the annual “Sheddies” awards.

The sales and marketing director now has so much postal paraphernalia that he has a second overflow shed allowing room for his growing collection.

Steve — who lives with his wife Claire and sons Matthew, 16, and Peter, 14, — added: “Everyone enjoys soaking up the atmosphere when we open up the shed to visitors and I have a band of volunteers who help out on the day.

“It’s great that people can come and share my passion in life — especially when it’s just a couple of yards from my back door.”