Banton and Queenzieburn postie celebrates 40 years of early rises.

Donald Provan (61) is Kilsyth born and bred and has served the area since 1973. And what’s his favourite thing about the job?

“It’s nice meeting all the people you deliver to, you get to know a lot of them. The job also keeps me fit and active,” said Donald, who has a son called Stuart. His brother, Jim, also worked for this newspaper before moving to the Daily Record.

“My co-workers gave me a gift and a plaque, and we went out for a couple of drinks,” said Donald, who has only just returned to work following an operation on his arm.

“They’re a good guys to work with,” he added.

There’s only one way Donald feels the job has changed for the worse in all the time he’s been doing it - the hours have changed. “We used to start at five AM and now we usually start at seven, so we finish later. That’s not quite so good for me as it means I have less time to play bowls.”

Donald is a member of Kilsyth Stirling Road Bowling Club and rates it as his favourite hobby, closely followed by supporting Rangers FC.

“I held a season ticket at Ibrox before Rangers went into administration,” said Donald.

And how does this veteran postman cope with the vast increase of mail this time of year involves? The answer is that, after so many years’s experience, he takes it in his stride.

“It’s no problem to me, I’ve been doing this for 40 years,” he said. “You just need to get your head down and get on with it. To be honest it’s not as busy now as it used to be in previous years.”

And Royal Mail appreciate having a member of staff as dedicated as Donald. Jamie Lang, Royal Mail Delivery Office Manager Kilsyth, said; “I am sure Donald’s customers will join me in congratulating him.”