The 
Postman's songs sung in Norfolk dialect have
become part of Norfolk's musical history and embody the rural traditions and
dialect of the region. Allan Smethurst - the former Postman from Sheringham
in North Norfolk - wrote most of the songs himself and incorporated into them
many of the familia
r
towns and events of the surrounding area.
Born in Lancashire he moved to Sheringham in North Norfolk as a boy. He was a postman for 12 years but, as a great fan of George Formby, he taught himself to play the guitar and he had a great gift for song writing.
Allan sent a demo tape to Ralph Tuck who compered a BBC East Anglian radio programme on which The Singing Postman sang his East Anglian Folk Songs. After leaving the BBC Ralph Tuck set up his own recording company and published his first Postman record in 1964. In 1965 it was outselling the Beatles and Rolling Stones records in several parts of East Anglia and then The Postman became a national phenomenon and made the top twenty list. He appeared on Top of the Pops at the same time as the Rolling Stones. His songs were also played extensively in America .
Since the 1960s The Postman has become part of East Anglian folklore. Everyone in East Anglia and many nationally have heard of 'Hev Yew Gotta Loight Bor' and many others of his songs including A Miss From Diss and Oi Can't Get A Noice Loaf a Bread. Hev Yew Gotta Loight Bor won the Ivor Novello award for the best novelty song of 1966.
Allan found great difficulty in coping with the publicity and suffered badly from stagefright. Sadly he died just before Christmas 2000.
See and hear the complete collection of Allan's music on the Singing Postman CD page.
Read the book "HEV YEW GOTTA LOIGHT BOY?" by Keith Skipper all about the life and lyrics of The Singing Postman published in November 2001. 96 pages with many photographs and lots of lyrics. (Currently sold out)