Olympic gold for Larkhill postbox
Larkhill Post Office has become the UK's first to have its postbox painted gold in celebration of Captain Heather Stanning's Olympic gold medal win in the women's coxless rowing pairs - but it wasn't done by Royal Mail.
A soldier walks past the gold-painted postbox in Larkhill [Picture: Corporal Steve Blake, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
The Royal Mail is only painting the postboxes in the home towns of the winners.
Gold medallist Captain Stanning’s home town is Lossiemouth in Scotland, but mysteriously the postbox in Larkhill, her second home, turned bright gold overnight.
Postmaster Mark Baker said:
We were approached by the unit, but had to inform them that our box probably wouldn’t be painted as this was not her home town. They were a bit disappointed.
I decided to get onto the Royal Mail late that night and was told they would see what they could do, but, as if by magic, when I came to work the next morning it was already painted gold.
Luckily for the regiment, the Royal Mail were happy with it being painted.
Captain Stanning is based at 32 Regiment Royal Artillery in Larkhill, so now the garrison village has its own tribute to her.
A Royal Mail spokesman said:
I imagine it will turn back to red at some stage, but I’m sure it will remain gold for the time being - obviously winning gold is a fantastic achievement.