Shropshire Postman Chris Holgate is brightening the lockdown on his rounds, by rocking a different fancy outfit every day.

It’s all in the name of charity, and this Thursday, having hit his target for Hope House Children’s Hospice, he will pull on his ultimate outfit – a dress and wig with pigtails!

Chris, one of the amazing postal key workers who is keeping our mail moving, first dressed up last week as part of a national fancy dress day for posties.

“I didn’t have anything to wear, so someone on my round in Knockin and Kinnerley gave me a fancy shirt,” says Chris, who is based at Oswestry Royal Mail office.

“The next day someone else gave me a different shirt, and then someone else gave me another, and it was Sarah and John Jones on my round who suggested I wear them to raise money for Hope House.”

Dared to wear the dress!

Donations started to arrive on the Hope House website marked ‘sponsorship for Postie Chris’, and then someone dared Chris to wear the dress!

“I said if we got to £500 I would, never thinking we’d hit the target! Then someone else mentioned a blonde wig so I said I’d do that for £1,000!

“Last time I looked the total was standing at just short of £2,500, and a local business has said they will add £500 too, so that is great.”

Chris plans to wear his dress and wig – which like his other outfits will be donated by people on his round – this Thursday. He anticipates his five hour round might take slightly longer with a dress to contend with!

Brightening people's days

“Everyone wants to see me make a fool of myself, but I really don’t mind as it is for such an amazing cause and, in these difficult times, it’s nice to be able to brighten people’s days with a bit of fun,” he added.

“Usually when I deliver the post everyone is in their pyjamas and dressing gowns, but I’ve told them on Thursday I want to see them in their gladrags to match my dress!”

Hope House Fundraising Team Leader Lynsey Kilvert said Chris had done an incredible job raising a fantastic sum of money that would be vital to help the hospice continue to provide crisis and end-of-life care to local terminally ill children.

If you would like to sponsor Chris please go to www.hopehouse.org.uk/donate and mark your donation Postie Chris.