A FAMILY have paid tribute to a popular former Maryport post woman who was a well-known face in the town, becoming known to many as ‘Peggy the Postwoman.’

Peggy Bryan died on February 5 in Suffolk after a period of illness. She was 93.

She had moved down to Suffolk four years ago to stay with her daughter for a few weeks prior to the Covid pandemic, and had stayed there until her death.

Born in Dearham, Peggy met her late husband Tom whilst they were both working in the jam factory at Maryport.

The couple first lived nearby then moved to 18a Brooklands Avenue in Maryport and married, having their two children Margaret and Jim.

Peggy's son, Jim Bryan said: "After the jam factory, mam worked at Childware  then became a postwoman working alongside my dad. That is how she became known as Peggy the post woman... she was on the post for nearly 20 years.

“She used to do what was called the Ewanrigg route, which encompassed all the up and down hills on the postal route in Maryport. She had more steps to cover than most people so she could walk for miles.”

Peggy used to love playing bingo twice a week and was a keen member of Ewanrigg Community Centre, before health problems in her legs caused her to be unable to attend.

Jim said: “Everybody knew and loved Peggy and she loved the job, she loved being out in the fresh air.

“She was also a part of the Ewanrigg community centre. She used to go there every Tuesday for 'coffee and craic' as it was called, she would meet up with all of her friends, to have a craic and put the world to rights between them.

“She was an all-round good egg, she was lovely, she was a great mam.”

Peggy is survived by 25 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, with the family pleased that she is now able to be reunited with her beloved late husband of 50 years, Tom, who died a few years ago.

Jim said: “She actually managed to see all of her grandkids within a month of her dying. The one thing she liked was when a new child or visitor went into my sister's house where she was lying in bed. It would perk her up no end to be able to sit up and play with the kids.”

Peggy will be cremated on Tuesday, February 27 in Suffolk, with a committal of ashes service in Maryport on a date and time to be advised later.