Royal Mail Finally Delivers 19-Year-Old Magazine to Chester Father

Paul Edwards, 52, received a copy of Mother & Baby magazine on Friday, 19 years after he purchased it in 2007. At the time, his daughter was 18 months old and his wife was three months from giving birth to their son. The magazine arrived in a half-torn bag accompanied by a Royal Mail apology for any inconvenience caused.

Edwards, a science-fiction author from Chester, said the delivery caught him by surprise. "I'm not sure we realised at the time that the magazine was missing. Then it's suddenly arrived in the post," he told BBC News.

He added that he frequently checks his mailbox hoping for publishing offers for his books. His children, now aged 18 and 20, have both left home and are studying at university. Edwards said the apology for inconvenience stood out.

"What really got me was the apologies for the inconvenience. Edwards posted about the delivery on social media. 6 million views and around 60,000 likes.

In the post he wrote: "Well done Royal Mail took a mere 19 years to deliver this magazine" and "Inconvenience? " The response surprised him. "I guess a big part of British culture is to complain about the post or trains being late, so it rings true for so many," he said.

Mother & Baby stopped printing physical editions in 2020 but continues to publish online. A Royal Mail spokesman said items remain in the system until delivered. The spokesman added that over the past year more than 92 per cent of letters arrived on time and over 99 per cent arrived within seven working days.

7 per cent of first-class post within one working day in the year ending March. Royal Mail said it checks delivery offices and sorting machines daily. The spokesman said the magazine was likely placed back into the postal system by someone rather than lost.

Edwards said he plans to discard the magazine.