Horace Postle (bottom left), Pete’s father, became Stationmaster at Sudbury Station (above) in 1952, until his retirement in 1967. He had spent practically all his working days as a railway man, starting as a clerk in Aylesham, Norfolk, soon after leaving school. From there he moved up the ranks, and after several appointments as Stationmaster in Lincolnshire, took up that position at Sudbury.

Horace was married with five children, including Pete, and they arrived in Sudbury on 8 September 1952. Pete’s elder siblings also took up various positions on the railways, leaving his brother Chris 7, and him, Pete, 8 – with a playground at weekends you could die for – Sudbury station, where at the weekend

the last trains from Colchester and Bury St Edmunds terminated at Sudbury, and were left in the station until Monday morning. All three of the brothers had railways in their blood. Colin built up a huge gauge OO layout of principally Eastern Region locos and rolling stock. Chris became captivated by LMS Duchesses at O gauge, and Pete was, and still is, dedicated to LNER – smaller stuff but at a larger gauge 1, and also to narrow gauge live steam.