It was meant to be a simple, last-minute dash for euros on a busy bank holiday weekend. But for Lucy, a mum of two from Leeds, it nearly turned into a disaster that would have left her grounded while her family jetted off to Corfu.
When she stepped into the post office on Montreal Avenue on Saturday 24 May, her mind was already halfway to the sun-soaked beaches of Greece. Between ticking items off her to-do list and managing two excited children, Lucy collected her holiday currency – but accidentally left behind the most important thing of all: her passport.
She didn’t realise until later, when the post office branch was already closed for the Bank Holiday. “I just didn’t think about looking after my passport,” she later told BBC Radio Leeds. “At one point, I just resigned to the fact that the three of these were going on holiday without me.”
That Monday, 26 May, Lucy’s calm exterior masked growing panic. Her flight was early the next morning – long before the post office was due to reopen. She reached out to BBC Radio Leeds in desperation, and that’s when things started to change.
Listeners quickly rallied to help, with several suggesting she try contacting Chris Bolton, a long-serving postmaster at Barwick-in-Elmet known for his local knowledge and dedication. He used his area’s WhatsApp group and managed to try to contact Montreal Avenue postmaster, Rauf Amir, to see if the passport had been found.
At the same time, the Post Office press office sprang into action. Press officer Sheila Tapster contacted regional manager Victoria Patching, who in turn alerted area manager Dawn Penty, whose patch included the Montreal Avenue branch. A flurry of calls and messages followed as the team raced to locate Rauf, and Chris managed to speak to him first, just minutes ahead of Dawn.
“I didn’t hear anything about Lucy trying to find me until first thing Monday morning,” Rauf told Asian Trader. “She finally got hold of my number and texted me. I called her immediately and she asked if there was any way I could get to the post office so she could meet me there. She explained she was due to fly very early the next day. Of course I said yes straight away and drove down to open up.”
It was around 11:30am when Lucy and Rauf met at the branch. “When Lucy met me, I knew immediately it was her passport – I recognised her from the photo,” he said. “She was so happy… she thought she might have to stay behind. She said she’d be bringing me back some amazing gifts from her holiday!”
For Rauf, though, it wasn’t about thanks. “It didn’t matter that it was a bank holiday, I could tell Lucy was desperate. I don’t want anything in return, it’s all part of the service. We have a fantastic community here. Any other postmaster would’ve done the same.”
Lucy was emotional when speaking from the airport the next morning. Alongside her husband and daughters Anna and Hope, she told BBC Leeds: “It makes me feel really humble… the outpouring of support was just overwhelming. I’ve always loved Leeds, but this just goes to show what a special place it is.”
Even in the midst of her relief, she was struck by the kindness of a man she’d never met before. “What a lovely man. He actually apologised to me, but I told him, ‘Don’t apologise, I’m just so grateful.’”
Post Office regional manager Victoria Patching said the incident reflected the very best of the organisation’s values. “What Rauf, Chris and the rest of the Post Office team did to reunite Lucy with her lost passport is a testament to the Post Office’s role at the heart of local communities. It’s more than a place for currency or stamps; it’s a lifeline, a neighbour, a problem-solver.”
As for Lucy, she made her flight on Tuesday 27 May, passport in hand and family in tow. Her Corfu holiday was saved, but perhaps more importantly, she left with a story she’ll never forget.
