Routes to Swindon

Between March and September 2025, people at the Royal Mail sites at Dorcan shared their stories and experiences. They also took photographs of each other in the workplace.

This project showed some of the ways in which people came to work in Dorcan, their differing career paths, and the jobs that they do. It also showed the importance of community.

You can download the project booklet or read more below.

Download the booklet (PDF)

Postal worker seated at a desk next to sorting equipment. — The Royal Mail sites at Dorcan

A postal worker with moving equipment at a sorting office. — The Royal Mail sites at Dorcan

A woman walking through the Royal Mail site in a postal worker uniform. — The Royal Mail sites at Dorcan

Physical Routes

People have come to work at the Dorcan site from many different places. Swindon Mail Centre was originally in the centre of Swindon on Merton Street. In 1991 it moved to Dorcan. In 2009 the site expanded when Reading and Oxford Mail centres closed down and their operations moved to Swindon, along with lots of staff. Since 2009 people from Goa have been a significant part of the workforce.

Postal workers sorting bags at a mail centre.

Merton Street

Ebenezer

From November 2001 to March 2002 Ebenezer worked as a Christmas casual in Reading Mail Centre (RMC). Ebenezer’s line manager, Ian Young, suggested he join Royal Mail. After an interview and test he became an OPG (Operational Postal Grade) in May 2002.

A newer photo of Ebenezer at the Swindon mail centre. — Ebenezer

Ebenezer used to sort large letters until 2009, when the closure of RMC gave staff a choice of moving to Langley or Swindon. He chose Swindon – and has been a part of the Mail Centre team ever since. Over the past 16 years, Ebenezer has taken on a variety of roles, including training to run the Parcel Sorting Machine (PSM).

What he likes about Royal Mail is the flexibility the company has for families with younger children, including family friendly hours.

“I have met and worked with people from almost all over the continents. One thing I will miss once I retire is the food and cultures from other countries.”

Terry

“When Reading closed we had a choice of: stay at Reading on deliveries, go to Langley or come to Swindon Mail Centre. So I chose Swindon Mail Centre.”

Terry started working at Royal Mail on 21st August 1989 as a sixteen year old cadet. Cadets were split into groups. One week they did deliveries, one week they were on the shop floor and the other week they had classroom studies to learn about Royal Mail. To qualify for the next stage, cadets had to sort 200 outward letters in 20 minutes and 500 inward letters in 20 minutes.

Terry later worked on the TPOs (Travelling Post Offices) at Reading. Reading was the first office to have the CFCs (Culler Facer Cancellers) and Terry was one of the first operators in the country.

At Swindon, Terry has worked on the CFC machine and was also part of the World Class Mail scheme. He helped to evaluate and improve the machine. Terry now works on the collection ramp and loading the vans.

Caetano

There is a significant Goan community in the UK, particularly in areas like Swindon and London. The community largely consists of individuals with Portuguese citizenship, who have been drawn to the UK for employment opportunities, especially within the hospitality, delivery and IT sectors.

Caetano Novaes (OPG Weekend Shift) spends some of his spare time on the patio tending to the gardens. He uses his own equipment and plants to make the patio a nicer area.

Thanks to his hard work for Royal Mail Caetano has been able to build a house back in Goa. He has built a replica post box in the garden.

Caetano standing next to flowers in the patio garden at the Swindon mail centre. — Caetano and the patio garden in Swindon

A pink painted house with a miniature red postbox in the front garden. — Replica postbox in Goa

Larina

“The Goan community in the UK has a rich history and has made valuable contributions to British society. From their delicious cuisine to their vibrant celebrations, Goans have added a touch of Goa’s charm to the multicultural tapestry of the UK. Their presence serves as a reminder of the power of cultural exchange and the positive impact it can have on society.”

“Royal Mail as an employer has opened a door to fulfil the dreams of the Goan community and have indirectly played a part in changing people’s lives for good.”

Career Routes

People started working at the Dorcan site for many different reasons. Some people start as apprentices, while others join later in life. There are lots of job roles including: postal workers, drivers, engineers, managers, canteen workers, cleaners and office staff. They are all important.

A cleaner with trolley and equipment in the Swindon mail centre. — Cleaners

A man in a red postal uniform and trolley with sorting equipment. — Postal workers

A row of postal workers in red postal uniforms, sorting letters. — Postal workers

Postal workers in uniform at the mail centre. — Office

Three office workers standing in the mail centre. — Office

An office worker at a work desk in Swindon. — Office

Engineers in blue uniform working at a machine. — Engineers

An engineer in an old blue postal uniform, working at a computer. — Engineers

Three engineers working with machinery. — Engineers

Uniformed postal workers with trolleys at the delivery office. — Delivery office

Uniformed postal workers with sorting equipment at the delivery office. — Delivery office

Uniformed drivers moving mail in trolleys. — Drivers

Uniformed driver taking mail out of a red postal van. — Drivers

Uniformed workers by the counter at the canteen. — Canteen

Why did you decide to work for Royal Mail?

“Originally I trained to be a plasterer on a YTS scheme. And then the bloke said to me why don’t you join Royal Mail? So I joined Royal Mail.” Terry

“I needed a job!” Gary

“I wanted an engineering apprenticeship with an iconic company” Steve

“Got made redundant. Sisters worked for Royal Mail” Candice

“It’s a peace of mind job” Laz

Mail Routes

The way in which the different buildings in Dorcan operate has changed over time. The layout of the site, including the location of some buildings and sections, has changed too! New machines have been installed, and there is now more emphasis on parcels than there used to be.

A uniformed postal worker with machinery. — Mail routes

A postal worker at a computer desk. — Mail routes

A large machine in the mail centre. — Mail routes

A poster showing the development of technology used for the Mail. The poster has the text: 'From clipboard to cloud. 1999 Clipboard & Pen. 2000s Scanner and Floppy disk. Late 2000s Sharepoint and Automation. Today Cloud and Live data. From paper sheets to live dashboards, the post keeps moving and so do we.' — Mail routes

Postal workers working on a machine and conveyor belt in the mail centre. — Mail routes

Mail and parcels moving through a large machine in the mail centre. — Mail routes

PETRA

The Postal Engineering Test and Repair Agency (PETRA) provides a range of in-house repair and manufacturing services to support automation equipment in Mail Centres and Parcel Hubs across Royal Mail. Their department includes a mini Mail Centre used for testing and training, as well as a mechanical workshop used for small-scale manufacturing and prototyping.

Two postal workers at a worktable, working with crafting and modelling materials. — PETRA

A room with tools, computers and a robot standing in the corner. — PETRA

A man in blue uniform works at a 3D printing machine. — PETRA

A display of computer chips mounted on a blue board with the acronym 'PETRA' on display in the middle of the board. — PETRA

A woman in blue uniform working with tools at a desk. — PETRA

The side of a large blue machine with a clear panel, showing moving parts inside the machine. — PETRA

A man in blue uniform works at a computer desk. — PETRA

Community Routes

Life in the buildings isn’t only about work. The workplace is also a place of companionship, learning and the sharing of skills, knowledge, stories and food.

Isambard Learning Centre

The Isambard Learning Centre at Swindon Royal Mail is open to everyone. It is a joint venture between the CWU and Royal Mail. For the last 15 years it has been run by Sandra Absalom (Lead Union Learning Rep). Over the years it has offered lots of different activities. These have included Maths, English, drawing, computer skills, languages, yoga, flower arranging and singing lessons.

A man holding up a certificate titled: 'National Vocational Qualification' — Community routes

A group of postal workers in uniform, holding up certificates. — Community routes

Two men playing snooker at the mail centre, with a banner commemorating Armed Forces Day in the background. — Community routes

A canteen worker at the counter, serving food. — Community routes

A postal worker holding up a bag of snacks at the mail centre. — Community routes

A woman in costume, wearing a white dress and feathered headdress. — Community routes

A man in costume, dressed up as a reindeer. — Community routes

Three men in postal uniform, sitting together at a bench with coffee cups. — Community routes

A group of workers posing next to sorting equipment. — Community routes

A group of workers in blue postal uniform, holding up signs saying 'I'm voting yes!' — Community routes

A large group of postal workers at a long table at a party, with Christmas decorations and festive jumpers. — Community routes

A group of postal workers in uniform at the mail centre, posing with sorting equipment in the background. — Community routes

A woman at the counter in the canteen. — Community routes

Postal workers next to a long table of food at a party. — Community routes

A library van parked outside the mail centre. — Community routes

People

The Royal Mail site at Dorcan is made up of lots of people with their own backgrounds, experiences and stories to tell. Here are a few of them.

A man operating a machine in the mail centre. — People at Swindon

Workers moving trolleys. — People at Swindon

A man in red postal uniform working at a computer. — People at Swindon

Three men in postal uniform, posing with mail centre equipment in the background. — People at Swindon

A woman in red postal uniform working with sorting equipment. — People at Swindon

A man in postal uniform with trolleys and mail equipment in the background. — People at Swindon

A woman in postal uniform with a mail trolley. — People at Swindon

A woman in postal uniform seated in an office at the mail centre. — People at Swindon

Postal workers working with machinery. — People at Swindon

Postal workers working with sorting equipment. — People at Swindon

A man driving a yellow machine through the mail centre. — People at Swindon

Thank you

Thanks to everyone who helped with this project, including people who shared their memories, took photographs, appeared in photographs and loaned equipment. Special thanks to the people who helped to organise the project and the display, including:

Andrea Dumbrell
Laura Gibbs
Lech Bartoszewski
Mark Bishop
Pam Beech
Rashid Choudhary
Roo Andersen
Sandra Absalom
Simon King
Steve Pritchard
Sue Harkin