From Rats to Riches ‘The proudest man in Speen in 1947 was the sub postmaster, Mr George Ridgley who, at the age of 92, was awarded an MBE for long and faithful ‘The award was the culmination of 44 years service as village postmaster and over 25 years in the additional role of postman, not only for Speen but also the surrounding villages. Mr Ridgley also held the distinction of being the oldest sub postmaster in the country. "For 25 years, whatever the weather, he never failed to carry out his one delivery a day, a task that, involved a 10-mile walk over a scattered and hilly district. To a non-smoker, who never had a cigarette or pipe, this did not prove a problem,’ it was reported, A long wait is in store for the youngsters pictured here during a scorching hot day in June 1947 to get, in to The Vale open air swimming pool in Aylesbury... but, as one of the only cool spots in the town, it had to be worth it.