BOB Smith will certainly be missed across Colchester when he hangs up his delivery lorry keys for the last time.

Mr Smith has spent the last 40 years delivering groceries to communities across the borough.

He has also managed to find time to help wife Christine run the Fingringhoe Post Office, which will close for the last time on September 24th.

Mr Smith, 65, will finish his last delivery round on September 1.

Mrs Smith, 58, said: “When we took over the Post Office 18 years ago, the whole idea was Bob would give up the deliveries and we would do the shop and the Post Office between us, but the lorry is his life and he couldn’t give it up.

“So he kept going and I look after the shop.

Lifelong fan and season ticket holder at Colchester United, Mr Smith has used six vans during the last 40 years, but his current vehicle, a former Essex County Council libraries van, has been going for 25 years.

He said: “It will be very sad and I shall be upset when it’s over.

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