GOING back to 1912, about the time this photograph was taken, readers might well imagine that the pace of life was much slower.

But there were several deliveries of mail a day, and if a letter was posted in the morning, it would get to someone on the other side of town in the afternoon.

People wishing to send a parcel could use the Corporation Tramways to make an express delivery to anywhere within a mile of the tramlines.

You handed in your parcel to the tram conductor at the nearest stop, and when the car reached Broad Street, a uniformed delivery boy, like those in the photograph, would take charge of it.

The delivery boys operated from the Central Parcels Office, which was next to the archway in Broad Street leading to the covered market - where Sainsbury's is now.

The onward journey was made by bicycle if the destination was near the town centre, and otherwise by tramcar, with the delivery boy accompanying the parcel.

The cost of the service depended on the weight of the parcel and the distance of the destination from the tramline.

Within half-a-mile of the track, it was 1d. for up to 7lb, 2d for up to 28lb, or 4d for up to 56lb. Between half-a-mile and one mile of the track, these prices were increased by one penny. Because of the Post Office acts, the Tramways Parcels Express could not carry letters. Apparently the service was so good that letters were put into boxes, suitably wrapped, and sent by tram as parcels.

The full story of the service, and the tramway as a whole, is given in The Tramways Of Reading by H E Jordan.

This week's picture is a blown-up section from a photograph of the south side of Broad Street, which was taken to show the whole frontage of Wellsteed's, later Debenham's, department store.

There is a lot going on in the picture, and as so often happens, the most interesting bit to me does not have anything to do with the reason for the picture being taken.

The smart uniforms of the delivery boys are immediately striking - white topped peaked caps, doubtless with "R.C.T." on the badge, double-breasted tunics with shiny buttons, breeches, and knee-boots.

The words "Tramways Parcels Express" can be made out on the bicycle, and there is a sack-truck handy for those 56lb parcels.

In the background what is now the Prezzo Italian restaurant is the shop of Madame Lee, corsetiere, and on the other corner of Minster Street, now Patisserie Valerie, is Manfield's boot shop.