Royal Snail

[CageyH]

I think that was probably the case.
It is just surprising that it turns up 30 years later, with no explanation, or apology...

[Lawrence001]

It is probably as Grant has said: the letter was dropped somewhere.

I worked for the Royal Mail as a student during the Christmas holidays, both sorting and collecting the mail bags from the railway station.
Regarding the latter, the bags were sealed and the seal was only opened and the bag emptied at the sorting office. Then the bags were turned inside out to make sure there were no letters left behind.

Likewise, it is possible that some letters may fall to the floor whilst sorting, but the premises are cleaned by closely observered cleaners, so should be recovered.

The only other explanation is that your letter fell out behind the pigeonhole for the onward postal district, and was not discovered until the entire rack was moved.

The Royal Mail here is still pretty good and efficient; it's just the high costs I resent.

Yep probably dropped and somehow turned up decades later. Whether it was dropped by the French postal service or Royal Mail we'll probably never know. Maybe we should call it Schrödinger's letter.

[CageyH]

If it was me that found it, I would have looked at the post mark date, and probably binned it.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yep probably dropped and somehow turned up decades later. Whether it was dropped by the French postal service or Royal Mail we'll probably never know. Maybe we should call it Schrödinger's letter.

Well if it was a cat there'd be no question whether it was dead or alive.

[Lawrence001]

If it was me that found it, I would have looked at the post mark date, and probably binned it.

You'd be guilty of interfering with the King's mail, there's probably still a death sentence for that.

[guy]

You'd be guilty of interfering with the King's mail, there's probably still a death sentence for that.

Even worse, the kings french letter

[CageyH]

You'd be guilty of interfering with the King's mail, there's probably still a death sentence for that.

Royal Mail have never lost any parcels/letters before?

[Lawrence001]

Even worse, the kings french letter

[Lawrence001]

Royal Mail have never lost any parcels/letters before?

I imagine the death sentence would only apply to someone actively destroying/intercepting a letter. Simple incompetence would probably just see anyone found guilty left to rot in the tower.

In practice I imagine the usual corporate get out clause would apply that nobody is individually guilty and they would just need to do a short online multiple choice training course to make sure they understand their responsibilities.

[struth]

Royal Mail have never lost any parcels/letters before?

the death sentence was abolished in 1837.