Thought For The Day – Friday 9^th October 2026

Today is “World Post Day”. 

A theme for young people today is the importance of human connection in a digital world.  This promotes literacy through letter-writing.

This theme could equally apply to all citizens.

When was the last time we posted a letter or a card?

The United Nations state:

“In a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies – from social media and messaging apps to artificial intelligence and robotics – the nature of human connection is undergoing a profound transformation. While these tools have the power to bring people together, they can equally deepen feelings of loneliness and social isolation when meaningful human interaction is absent. Amid this shift, the postal network remains a powerful and enduring instrument of human connection.”

“World Post Day” celebrates all who work, at all hours,  in the Postal Service, from those who work in: Post Offices, which assist with a variety of services;  Sorting Offices;  Deliveries.

Thank you, in particular,  to all the great people who work at “Bishop’s Stortford Post Office”.

This branch was once visited by a “Superhero”, pictured above, as an extra scene in the film “Spider-man: Far From Home” was filmed by the Sorting Office, and in the branch’s former offices,  in 2018.

This was very appropriate the Post Office which, amongst other things, keeps people connected who are far from their home.

But, as Spider-man states: “With great power, comes great responsibility”.

“Not all heroes wear capes”.  In recent times, we have been inspired, and greatly moved,  by the Post Office workers who stood up for Justice, after more than 700 U.K. branch owner-operators (or Sub-Postmasters or Sub-Postmistresses) were wrongly accused of, and wrongly, prosecuted for, theft, fraud and false accounting. This became known as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in U.K. legal history.    Many lost their jobs, homes, and lifesavings. Some went to prison. Many were financially ruined. Some died then and in the aftermath. Others have died since.

But these wonderful, ordinary people, the heart and soul of the U.K. Post Office,  had done nothing wrong. The problem was caused by a new computer accounting system the Post Office management had introduced called “Horizon”.

The Post Office workers’ campaign for Justice, which went on for years,  was led by, now Sir, Alan Bates, pictured below,  from Liverpool, who was Sub-Postmaster at Llandudno Post Office in North Wales.

A brilliant 2024 ITV drama on this subject raised further awareness.

Sir Alan Bates was recognised at “The Pride of Britain Awards”. This short tribute tells the story of the Sub-Postmistresses and Sub-Postmasters :    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiE40G488Ss