WHATEVER the weather you could always rely on one Citizen delivery man for a smile and a wave.

But John Ellis, who has been delivering more than 1,000 copies of your priceless weekly every Thursday in Bispham for nearly 16 years has decided to take retirement due to ill health.

The 78-year-old ex-RAF serviceman, from Winnipeg Place, says he would have liked to have soldiered on. He said: "I didn't really want to give up and would have liked to have carried on a bit longer."

John's wife Gwen, also 78, said: "John started delivering the papers after he took early retirement from the ICI plant in Thornton and had time on his hands.

"He's always said there were no days when he didn't feel like doing the round, apart from when he's got a cold.

"Even though he's had one or two bites from unfriendly dogs, he's really enjoyed it and has got to know quite a lot of people on his travels.

"Delivering them was no trouble to him. He's always been very active, but now his health has slowed him down a little."

But John has definitely left his mark. One Bispham resident has written to The Citizen paying tribute to his sterling work.

Josephine Harwood, of Moor Park Avenue, writes: "I was saddened to learn this week of John's retirement. I wish him a long and happy retirement and his ready smile and cheery words will be missed."

Now John, who played football for ICI, and Gwen are looking forward to having the extra time to visit family members in Chester and Guernsey.

Gwen said: "We're going to be quite busy I imagine. We go on day trips here and there and it will be nice to spend more time with John."

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