Robert Malone

POSTAL workers put their sacks of letters to one side on Wednesday morning to line Rosslyn Hill in Hampstead to pay their respects to retired postman and former trade union shop steward Robert Malone, who died last week. He was 76.
Mr Malone lived in Fellows Road, Swiss Cottage, for 50 years. He came to London from Fife when his father, Charles, found work as a caretaker at St Dominic’s Primary School in Kentish Town.
He took a job at the Lord Southampton pub in Gospel Oak, where he remained as manager until joining Hampstead Post Office in 1975.
Mr Malone pounded the streets of Hampstead for 19 years delivering letters, but even after retiring he remained on Hampstead branch committee of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU).
Lord Clarke of Hampstead, himself a former postal worker at Shepherd’s Walk sorting office, said Mr Malone always stood up for his colleagues.
He added: “Bob was not only a good person, but he was a great trade unionist who showed active interest in the welfare of fellow workers. If there was a problem with management, the first person you looked to was Bob. Even when he retired he kept going to the meetings. He was helpful, cheerful and epitomised the Post Office workforce. He commanded the respect of the public.
“He was my fellow worker too. I’m proud to say we were friends.”
In his early years, Mr Malone was an altar boy at St Dominic’s Priory RC Church in Kentish Town and remained a parishioner there for the rest of his life.
He joined the Priory Players, a theatrical group made up of parishioners. Formed in 1931, the group staged productions twice a year in the old Blackfriars Hall in Southampton Road.
Mr Malone appeared in Pride and Prejudice, A Man for All Seasons and The Crucible.
Fellow amateur actor, George Tindall, recalled the range of Mr Malone’s repertoire. He said: “He was a genuine person. What I loved about him was that he retained his Scottish accent, even in performance. He played so many parts but always with a Scottish accent.
“He was a sincere Catholic and tackled everything to the best of his ability.”
Mr Malone’s daughter, Eleanor Kelly, 26, recalled how her father would sing and play the accordion at Priory Players concerts.
Father Ryan Columba, of St Dominic’s, officiated at the funeral service yesterday (Wednesday) which was attended by 200 mourners.
He said: “At times life was hard for Robert. But the constant love and attention he gave to his daughter Eleanor kept him going.”

TOM FOOT