Page 87 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

In October 1943 The Kentish Times reported that there had been a robbery at the Foots
Cray Post Office which had been owned and run by the Tossell family for over 40 years,
and whose young son, Frank, had died during the terrible first battle of the Somme in 1916.

Mrs Tossell told the reporter that the post office was unstaffed for the lunch-time closure
between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Friday, 1st October. When she returned she found the
contents of the safe had been stolen and the remaining documents strewn all over the
floor. The thieves took everything convertible but left the War Savings Certificates, which
they could not use. Mrs Tossell felt that the thieves probably watched the premises before
carrying out the daring robbery in full daylight when there are usually plenty of people
about.

Gertrude Nunns, in her booklet on the history of Foots Cray published in 1982, states:

"The earliest reference to Foots Cray in the Post Office archives is an
entry for 21st September 1763: "Ordered that Peter Farney be appointed
Postmaster of Footscray to commence 5th January next at an allowance
of £30. per annum."

By 1832 letters from London were received at the Tiger's Head by
cross post from Bromley. In 1853, it was noted that the allowance of
£80. a year recently granted to the Bromley & Footscray messenger is
quite sufficient and did not justify him in making application to the
residents on his walk for money to defray the expenses of his horse
and cart!

With the opening of Sidcup Station in 1866, mail came direct
and the service increased. In the 1930's there were eight postal
collections a day from the Foots Cray Post Office."

All through the terrible war years, the twin communities of Foots Cray and North Cray still
held their annual Autumn Fayre and in 1947 they were able to boast that in a hundred years
they had only three secretaries. One long serving secretary was Mr. J. A. Winter, the
former headmaster of Foots Cray School. He had been there when most of the young men
who died in the First World War entered his school and had seen them mature into adults
and then enter their own children into his classes. He was also present at the 1919
Armistice Day Service held in St. John's Church, Sidcup.

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