2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes
Commemorative post boxes in the UK
The gold post box in Arleston, Telford, that commemorates the gold medal won by paralympian Mickey Bushell .
To commemorate British gold medal winners at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics , various post boxes in the home towns of the medal winners around the United Kingdom, plus one each on Sark and the Isle of Man , were repainted gold. It marked the first occasion in modern times that the colour of post boxes in the United Kingdom had been changed from their traditional red. Originally intended to be a temporary measure, due to the positive public response it was later decided the colour change would become a permanent tribute, with boxes additionally receiving their own special plaques.
Organisers and timeline
The project was organised by Royal Mail Group Communications in-house team, Eulogy[ 1] and Blonde. Outside the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man Post and Guernsey Post also decided to emulate the Royal Mail scheme when athletes from their territories won gold (one each).[ 2] [ 3] The project was launched on 24 July by painting the box at Westminster Abbey ,[ 4] whilst the first athletes' boxes to be painted were in Lossiemouth for Heather Stanning and in Penzance for Helen Glover , to commemorate their medals in the women's coxless pair rowing .[ 5] [ 6]
While initially planning to commemorate only Olympic gold medallists, on 15 August 2012, Royal Mail confirmed that gold medallists at the 2012 London Paralympics would also be similarly recognised with boxes and stamps.[ 7] [ 8] On 19 September 2012, the Royal Mail relented to public pressure and decided to also commemorate Northern Irish Paralympians who won gold medals while competing for Ireland , reversing their position that "the stamps and gold post boxes were specifically for gold medal winning Olympian and Paralympians who competed for Team GB."[ 9] [ 10] On 2 November 2012, it was announced the boxes would retain their new colour permanently, and would also receive a plaque denoting the recipient.[ 11] [ 12]
Colour and precedent
According to Royal Mail, the first postboxes (pillar boxes) were erected in the UK in 1853, a year after trial boxes had been erected in Jersey . They were initially painted green, to blend in with the landscape, however between 1874 and 1884 they were repainted bright red to better stand out. This has remained the standard colour, with only a few exceptions, such as blue for Air Mail in the 1930s.[ 4] Also according to Royal Mail, while gold stamp schemes had been introduced before, the UK is "believed to be the first country to paint post boxes gold to celebrate Olympic and Paralympic gold medal wins".[ 4]
Locations
Each gold medallist in the 2012 games had a post box painted in recognition of their achievement, usually in their home-town.[ 4] [ 13]
Great Britain
Gold postbox in Penzance, Cornwall honouring Helen Glover
Boxes were painted gold across Great Britain, as far north as Lossiemouth in Scotland, down to the near tip of South West England in Penzance , Cornwall .[ 13] The actual site of boxes ranges greatly, from rural places such as village greens, to suburban high street locations such as Stratford-upon-Avon, to urban city centres.
Northern Ireland
Although athletes from Northern Ireland are eligible to compete for both Great Britain (Team GB and ParalympicsGB ) and Ireland (Team Ireland and Paralympics Ireland ), there were no GB gold medallists from Northern Ireland.
Due to the Royal Mail's decision to recognise Northern Irish medallists competing for Ireland, three Irish gold medal winning Paralympians were recognised with boxes in Eglinton (Jason Smyth ), Glengormley (Michael McKillop ) and Seaforde (Bethany Firth ), although unlike the GB athletes, the multiple medallists (two each for Smyth and McKillop) did not receive multiple boxes.[ 10]
Sark (Bailiwick of Guernsey)
The formerly blue post box on the island of Sark in the Bailiwick of Guernsey was painted gold by Guernsey Post to commemorate Carl Hester 's team dressage success.[ 3]
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man Post painted one gold box for Peter Kennaugh following his success in the cycling team pursuit.[ 2]
Location disputes
In some cases, the locations chosen by Royal Mail for gold boxes were disputed by either the athlete or members of the public as not being appropriate, either because the athlete was more closely associated with another location, or their home town was not as closely located as another location. In some cases, the Royal Mail attributed these errors to Team GB's athlete details database. This variously led to additional boxes being awarded, and in at least one case, a gold box being repainted red.
For cyclist Joanna Rowsell , the Royal Mail initially painted a box in Carshalton , the location of her birth, however at the request of her family this was repainted red within a few days and replaced by a gold box in nearby Cheam , where she grew up and now lives.[ 14]
For sailor Ben Ainslie , the Royal Mail initially painted a box in Restronguet Passage , Cornwall, the place he grew up and learned to sail. A member of the public then painted a box in Lymington High Street, Hampshire, gold, on the basis that Ainslie was a long-time resident and considered a local "legend".[ 15] After initially filing a complaint, Royal Mail relented to a public campaign and decided to officially paint the Lymington box themselves.[ 15]
For canoeist Tim Baillie , the Mail painted a box in his home town of Westhill , Aberdeenshire. After requests from the public, a second box was added, also in Westhill, but in a more central location.[ 16]
For equestrian Peter Charles , Royal Mail painted a post box in Paper Mill Lane, Alton , Hampshire. It was soon pointed out that Charles lived in the nearby village of Bentworth (located 4 miles away), rather than the town itself and a second post box was painted accordingly.
Recipients
The majority of boxes were awarded to individual gold medallists, whether they were competing individually or as part of a team/crew. This meant that in several cases, multiple gold medal athletes received multiple boxes in various locations. The highest number awarded was four, for the quadruple gold medallists, Sarah Storey and David Weir .
In variation of the system of awarding one gold box per medal, there were variations on this theme (not counting instances of multiple boxes painted next to each other as a single site):
Andy Murray , Ben Ainslie , Bradley Wiggins , Heather Stanning , Nick Skelton , Peter Charles and Tim Baillie all received two individual gold boxes at two separate sites, to commemorate a single gold medal.
Charlotte Dujardin , Chris Hoy , Eleanor Simmonds , Mo Farah , Hannah Cockroft , Jason Kenny and Natasha Baker all received two individual gold boxes at two separate sites, to commemorate two gold medals.
Laura Trott received three individual gold boxes at three separate sites to commemorate two gold medals. One was initially painted in her birth town of Harlow by mistake, rather than Cheshunt where she grew up and considers her "home town".[ 17]
Pete Reed received four individual gold boxes at three separate sites to commemorate one gold medal
Sophie Christiansen received four individual gold boxes at four separate sites to commemorate three gold medals
In one case, a box was also shared between two athletes – cyclist Craig MacLean initially received one gold box in Grantown-on-Spey , Scotland, to commemorate his single gold medal won as an able-bodied pilot in the Paralympics, while Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton also initially received one gold box in Stotfold , Bedfordshire, to commemorate her single gold medal. A third box was later painted in their home town Wilmslow , Cheshire, dedicated to both of them.
In certain other cases, the boxes were awarded to commemorate recipients other than individual athletes:
The Henley box was awarded to mark the over one hundred Olympic medal winning rowers who have trained at the town's Leander Club .[ 18]
Types and cyphers
The type of box painted encompasses the wide variety of types in use.
The ubiquitous cylindrical pillar box was represented by both the traditional Type A (narrow) and Type B (wide) versions, plus the newer Type K pillar boxes (both singular and in pairs). The modern square shaped pillar box, the Type G, was also painted (singles and pairs). Various types of wall box were also represented, both installed in buildings, and in self-contained pillars. Representing the pole mounted type were two boxes of the more traditional design (Pete Reed in Watledge Road, Nailsworth and Bethany Firth in Seaforde), as well as a single example of the modern Type M (Tim Baillie, Westhill Drive North). A single example of the rare Penfold type hexagonal pillar box was also painted, for Sophie Wells in Lincoln. The Isle of Man box represents the only Type D painted gold (the D being a Type C oval but with a stamp vending machine), In one case, Nicola Adams' box in Leeds, as well as the post box, an adjacent Franked Mail Only type box was painted.
Reflecting the age range of the boxes painted, there are also a number of different Royal Cyphers , from the then-current Queen Elizabeth II (EIIR), to the historical versions for King Edward VII (EVIIR), King George V (G R) and Queen Victoria (V R). Also represented are Scottish boxes, which simply display the Scots Crown, and also boxes with no cypher at all.
Tourist attractions
The boxes were met by a very positive public reaction and have become tourist attractions within their local areas and many people have their photos taken alongside them.[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22]
Vandalism and unofficial boxes
Several of the official gold post boxes were subsequently vandalised. These included the ones for triathlete Alistair Brownlee ,[ 23] rower Kat Copeland ,[ 20] swimmer Josef Craig,[ 24] heptathlete Jessica Ennis ,[ 25] and tennis player Andy Murray .[ 20] Fans picked flecks of paint off Murray's box as souvenirs, while Ennis' box was defaced with the words "Go Jess".[ 20]
A number of additional post boxes were painted by members of the public to commemorate silver and bronze medallists:
The awarding of an additional box for Ben Ainslie in Lymington was precipitated by an episode of vandalism which saw the perpetrator arrested.[ 30]
After Lizzy Yarnold 's win in the Women's Skeleton during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi , vandals crudely painted a post box gold in her hometown of Sevenoaks , Kent. Despite an online petition attracting 43,000 signatures, Royal Mail rejected demands for an official gold post box to be decorated, declaring that the 2012 Summer Olympics were a 'unique occasion'.[ 31]
Two unofficial postboxes were positioned outside Home Park , Plymouth ; one gold for Lithuanian swimmer Rūta Meilutytė , who is based in the city, and one bronze for diver Tom Daley .[ 32]
Two unofficial boxes appeared in Posso and Kirkton Manor, both near Peebles in the Scottish borders, which also had its own official box in honour of Scott Brash and one at Stoke in Hayling Island, in honour of 2020 Olympian Eilidh McIntyre.
In addition to the gold post box on Sark for Carl Hester , in 2020 Guernsey Post painted one of their (normally blue) post boxes gold in recognition of Percy Hodge who won a gold medal at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp.[ 33]
List of gold postboxes
Olympian boxes
Athlete
Event(s)
Town/City
Address
Coordinates
Nicola Adams
Boxing – Women's flyweight
Leeds
Cookridge Street[ 13]
53°48′00″N 1°32′50″W / 53.7999°N 1.5472°W / 53.7999; -1.5472 (Nicola Adams, Leeds )
Ben Ainslie
Sailing – Men's Finn
Restronguet Lymington
Pandora Inn[ 13] High Street, Lymington[ 34]
50°11′41″N 5°03′51″W / 50.1948°N 5.0642°W / 50.1948; -5.0642 (Ben Ainslie, Restronguet ) 50°45′32″N 1°32′20″W / 50.7589°N 1.5388°W / 50.7589; -1.5388 (Ben Ainslie, Lymington )
Tim Baillie
Canoeing – Men's slalom C-2
Westhill [ 13] Westhill [ 13] [ 16]
Westhill Drive North[ 13] Westhill Drive South[ 13] [ 16]
57°09′34″N 2°16′54″W / 57.1595°N 2.2818°W / 57.1595; -2.2818 (Tim Baillie, Westhill ) 57°09′14″N 2°16′36″W / 57.1538°N 2.2767°W / 57.1538; -2.2767 (Tim Baillie, Westhill )
Laura Bechtolsheimer
Equestrian – Team dressage
Ampney St Peter
High Street
51°42′41″N 1°53′01″W / 51.7114°N 1.8835°W / 51.7114; -1.8835 (Laura Bechtolsheimer, Ampney St Peter )
Scott Brash
Equestrian – Team jumping
Peebles
41 High Street[ 13]
55°39′05″N 3°11′27″W / 55.6515°N 3.1909°W / 55.6515; -3.1909 (Scott Brash, Peebles )
Alistair Brownlee
Men's triathlon
Horsforth
Craghill Post Office, 77 New Road Side, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4QD[ 13]
53°49′55″N 1°38′27″W / 53.8320°N 1.6408°W / 53.8320; -1.6408 (Alistair Brownlee, Horsforth )
Steven Burke
Cycling – Men's team pursuit
Colne
Albert Road/Crabtree Street[ 13]
53°51′18″N 2°10′43″W / 53.8551°N 2.1786°W / 53.8551; -2.1786 (Steven Burke, Colne )
Luke Campbell
Boxing – Men's bantamweight
Hull
Hessle Road[ 13]
53°44′06″N 0°21′54″W / 53.7351°N 0.3650°W / 53.7351; -0.3650 (Luke Campbell, Hull )
Peter Charles
Equestrian – Team jumping
Alton Bentworth
Paper Mill Lane[ 13] Holt End Lane
51°09′04″N 0°58′00″W / 51.1511°N 0.9666°W / 51.1511; -0.9666 (Peter Charles, Alton ) 51°09′23″N 1°03′06″W / 51.1565°N 1.0516°W / 51.1565; -1.0516 (Peter Charles, Bentworth )
Ed Clancy
Cycling – Men's team pursuit
Huddersfield
Railway Street[ 13]
53°38′50″N 1°47′03″W / 53.6471°N 1.7842°W / 53.6471; -1.7842 (Ed Clancy, Huddersfield )
Katherine Copeland
Rowing – Women's lightweight double sculls
Ingleby Barwick
Apsley Way[ 13]
54°31′41″N 1°19′35″W / 54.5280°N 1.3265°W / 54.5280; -1.3265 (Katherine Copeland, Ingleby Barwick )
Charlotte Dujardin
Equestrian – Team dressage Equestrian – Individual dressage
Enfield Town Newent
Southbury Road[ 13] Church Street[ 13]
51°39′09″N 0°04′44″W / 51.6524°N 0.0788°W / 51.6524; -0.0788 (Charlotte Dujardin, Enfield Town ) 51°55′51″N 2°24′13″W / 51.9309°N 2.4035°W / 51.9309; -2.4035 (Charlotte Dujardin, Newent )
Jessica Ennis
Athletics – Women's heptathlon
Sheffield
Sheffield City Hall [ 13]
53°22′49″N 1°28′22″W / 53.3804°N 1.4728°W / 53.3804; -1.4728 (Jessica Ennis, Sheffield )
Mo Farah
Athletics – Men's 10,000 metres Athletics – Men's 5000 metres
Isleworth Teddington
Isleworth Post Office, London Road[ 13] Broad Street/North Lane[ 13]
51°28′30″N 0°20′16″W / 51.4751°N 0.3379°W / 51.4751; -0.3379 (Mo Farah, Isleworth ) 51°25′34″N 0°20′17″W / 51.4260°N 0.3380°W / 51.4260; -0.3380 (Mo Farah, Teddington )
GB Cycling
Cycling – British Cycling HQ
Manchester
Piccadilly Gardens [ 35]
53°28′53″N 2°14′13″W / 53.4814°N 2.2369°W / 53.4814; -2.2369 (GB Cycling, Manchester )
Helen Glover
Rowing – Women's coxless pair
Penzance
Quay Street, TR18 4BD
50°06′58″N 5°31′52″W / 50.1161°N 5.5310°W / 50.1161; -5.5310 (Helen Glover, Penzance )
Katherine Grainger
Rowing – Women's double sculls
Aberdeen
Castle Street[ 13]
57°08′54″N 2°05′32″W / 57.1483°N 2.0922°W / 57.1483; -2.0922 (Katherine Grainger, Aberdeen )
Alex Gregory
Rowing – Men's coxless four
Cheltenham
High Street[ 13]
51°53′59″N 2°04′22″W / 51.8997°N 2.0728°W / 51.8997; -2.0728 (Alex Gregory, Cheltenham )
Henley-on-Thames Rowers
Rowing – Leander Club
Henley-on-Thames
Hart Street[ 13]
51°32′16″N 0°54′15″W / 51.5377°N 0.9042°W / 51.5377; -0.9042 (Henley rowers )
Carl Hester
Equestrian – Team dressage
Sark , Guernsey
The Avenue[ 13]
49°25′56″N 2°21′23″W / 49.4321°N 2.3565°W / 49.4321; -2.3565 (Carl Hester, Sark )
Philip Hindes
Cycling – Men's team sprint
Manchester
Albert Square /Lloyd Street[ 13]
53°28′45″N 2°14′46″W / 53.4791°N 2.2460°W / 53.4791; -2.2460 (Phil Hindes, Manchester )
Sophie Hosking
Rowing – Women's lightweight double sculls
Wimbledon
Worple Road[ 13]
51°25′18″N 0°12′31″W / 51.42165°N 0.2085°W / 51.42165; -0.2085 (Sophie Hosking, Wimbledon )
Chris Hoy
Cycling – Men's keirin Cycling – Men's team sprint
Edinburgh
Hanover Street/Princes Street [ 13] Hunter Square[ 13]
55°57′08″N 3°11′47″W / 55.9522°N 3.1965°W / 55.9522; -3.1965 (Chris Hoy, Edinburgh ) 55°56′59″N 3°11′16″W / 55.9497°N 3.1878°W / 55.9497; -3.1878 (Chris Hoy, Edinburgh )
Tom James
Rowing – Men's coxless four
Wrexham
Town Hill Post Office[ 13]
53°02′40″N 2°59′40″W / 53.0445°N 2.9944°W / 53.0445; -2.9944 (Tom James, Wrexham )
Jade Jones
Taekwondo – Women's 57 kg
Flint
Church Street[ 13]
53°14′55″N 3°08′09″W / 53.2485°N 3.1359°W / 53.2485; -3.1359 (Jade Jones, Flint )
Anthony Joshua
Boxing – Men's super heavyweight
Watford [ 13]
High Street[ 13]
51°39′19″N 0°23′45″W / 51.6552°N 0.3958°W / 51.6552; -0.3958 (Anthony Joshua, Watford )
Peter Kennaugh
Cycling – Men's team pursuit
Onchan , Isle of Man
Main Road/Kelvin Road[ 13]
54°10′27″N 4°27′20″W / 54.1741°N 4.4555°W / 54.1741; -4.4555 (Peter Kennaugh, Onchan )
Jason Kenny
Cycling – Men's team sprint Cycling – Men's individual sprint
Bolton
Deansgate Churchgate[ 13]
53°34′45″N 2°25′57″W / 53.5792°N 2.4324°W / 53.5792; -2.4324 (Jason Kenny, Bolton ) 53°34′47″N 2°25′33″W / 53.5796°N 2.4258°W / 53.5796; -2.4258 (Jason Kenny, Bolton )
Dani King
Cycling – Women's team pursuit
Hamble-le-Rice
High Street[ 13]
50°51′32″N 1°18′54″W / 50.8590°N 1.3150°W / 50.8590; -1.3150 (Dani King, Hamble-le-Rice )
Ben Maher
Equestrian – Team jumping
Elsenham
Robin Hood Road[ 13] [ 36]
51°54′51″N 0°13′45″E / 51.9142°N 0.2292°E / 51.9142; 0.2292 (Ben Maher, Elsenham )
Ed McKeever
Canoeing – Men's K-1 200 metres
Bradford on Avon
The Shambles
51°20′52″N 2°15′03″W / 51.3478°N 2.2509°W / 51.3478; -2.2509 (Ed McKeever, Bradford on Avon )
Andy Murray
Tennis – Men's singles
Dunblane Wimbledon
High Street[ 13] Church Road
56°11′18″N 3°57′51″W / 56.1883°N 3.9641°W / 56.1883; -3.9641 (Andy Murray, Dunblane ) 51°25′49″N 0°12′45″W / 51.4303°N 0.2124°W / 51.4303; -0.2124 (Andy Murray, Wimbledon )
Olympic Village
2012 Summer Olympics
Stratford
Post Office, Broadway[ 37] [ 38]
51°32′26″N 0°00′03″E / 51.5405°N 0.0007°E / 51.5405; 0.0007 (Olympic Village, Stratford )
Victoria Pendleton
Cycling – Women's keirin
Stotfold Wilmslow
Brook Street[ 13] Alderley Road[ 39]
52°00′50″N 0°14′09″W / 52.0140°N 0.2359°W / 52.0140; -0.2359 (Victoria Pendleton, Stotfold ) 53°19′34″N 2°13′52″W / 53.3261°N 2.2312°W / 53.3261; -2.2312 (Victoria Pendleton and Craig MacLean, Wilmslow )
Pete Reed
Rowing – Men's coxless four
Chiswick Nailsworth Nailsworth
Heathfield Terrace, Chiswick[ 13] Old Market, Nailsworth[ 13] Watledge Road, Nailsworth [1]
51°29′29″N 0°15′57″W / 51.4913°N 0.2658°W / 51.4913; -0.2658 (Pete Reed, Chiswick ) 51°41′44″N 2°13′08″W / 51.6956°N 2.2190°W / 51.6956; -2.2190 (Pete Reed, Nailsworth ) 51°42′01″N 2°13′15″W / 51.7004°N 2.2209°W / 51.7004; -2.2209 (Pete Reed, Nailsworth )
Joanna Rowsell
Cycling – Women's team pursuit
Cheam [ 40]
Carshalton [ 14]
Ewell Road[ 13]
Carshalton Road/Cambridge Road[ 14] (Box repainted red on request by family for gold box in Cheam)
51°21′27″N 0°13′03″W / 51.3576°N 0.2175°W / 51.3576; -0.2175 (Jo Rowsell, Cheam )
51°21′47″N 0°10′18″W / 51.3630°N 0.1716°W / 51.3630; -0.1716 (Jo Rowsell, Carshalton )
Greg Rutherford
Athletics – Men's long jump
Milton Keynes
Silbury Boulevard[ 13]
52°02′40″N 0°45′26″W / 52.0444°N 0.7571°W / 52.0444; -0.7571 (Greg Rutherford, Milton Keynes )
Nick Skelton
Equestrian – Team jumping
Alcester Bedworth
High Street[ 13] High Street[ 13] [ 41]
52°12′50″N 1°52′13″W / 52.2140°N 1.8703°W / 52.2140; -1.8703 (Nick Skelton, Alcester ) 52°28′44″N 1°28′19″W / 52.4788°N 1.4719°W / 52.4788; -1.4719 (Nick Skelton, Bedworth )
Heather Stanning
Rowing – Women's coxless pair
Lossiemouth
Clifton Road West, IV31 6DP[ 13]
57°43′13″N 3°16′51″W / 57.7202°N 3.2809°W / 57.7202; -3.2809 (Heather Stanning, Lossiemouth )
Etienne Stott
Canoeing – Men's double canoe slalom
Bedford
St Paul's Square MK40 1SQ[ 13]
52°08′06″N 0°28′05″W / 52.1351°N 0.4681°W / 52.1351; -0.4681 (Etienne Stott, Bedford )
Geraint Thomas
Cycling – Men's team pursuit
Cardiff
Castle Street[ 13]
51°28′52″N 3°10′55″W / 51.4810°N 3.1820°W / 51.4810; -3.1820 (Geraint Thomas, Cardiff )
Andrew Triggs-Hodge
Rowing – Men's coxless four
Hebden
Main Street[ 13]
54°03′50″N 1°57′42″W / 54.0638°N 1.9616°W / 54.0638; -1.9616 (Andrew Triggs Hodge, Hebden )
Laura Kenny
Cycling – Women's team pursuit Cycling – Women's omnium
Cheshunt CheshuntHarlow
College Road[ 13] Cadmore Lane[ 13]
Post Office Road[ 13]
51°42′08″N 0°02′08″W / 51.7022°N 0.0355°W / 51.7022; -0.0355 (Laura Trott, Cheshunt )
51°42′32″N 0°01′46″W / 51.7090°N 0.0295°W / 51.7090; -0.0295 (Laura Trott, Cheshunt )
51°46′19″N 0°05′38″E / 51.7719°N 0.0940°E / 51.7719; 0.0940 (Laura Trott, Harlow )
Anna Watkins
Rowing – Women's double sculls
Leek
Derby Street[ 13]
53°06′21″N 2°01′29″W / 53.1057°N 2.0247°W / 53.1057; -2.0247 (Anna Watkins, Leek )
Bradley Wiggins
Cycling – Men's road time trial
Eccleston Chorley
Carrington Centre[ 13] Chorley Centre, Market Street[ 13]
53°38′46″N 2°43′26″W / 53.6461°N 2.7239°W / 53.6461; -2.7239 (Bradley Wiggins, Eccleston ) 53°39′14″N 2°37′57″W / 53.6540°N 2.6326°W / 53.6540; -2.6326 (Bradley Wiggins, Chorley )
Westminster Abbey
Project launch[ 42]
Westminster Abbey [ 42]
Tothill Street[ 42]
51°29′59″N 0°07′47″W / 51.4996°N 0.1298°W / 51.4996; -0.1298 (Westminster Abbey )
Peter Wilson
Shooting – Men's double trap
Sherborne
Cheap Street[ 13]
50°56′55″N 2°30′58″W / 50.9486°N 2.5162°W / 50.9486; -2.5162 (Peter Wilson, Sherborne )
Paralympian boxes
Key
* Athlete competed for Ireland
Athlete
Event
City
Address
Coordinates
Jessica-Jane Applegate
Swimming – Women's 200-metre freestyle S14
Belton with Browston [ 43]
Station Road South[ 43]
52°33′52″N 1°39′32″E / 52.5645°N 1.6589°E / 52.5645; 1.6589 (Jessica-Jane Applegate, Belton with Browston )
Natasha Baker
Equestrian – Individual championship test grade II Equestrian – Individual freestyle test grade II
Uxbridge [ 44] Cowley , London[non-primary source needed ]
High Street[ 46] Church Road
51°32′46″N 0°28′45″W / 51.5461°N 0.4793°W / 51.5461; -0.4793 (Natasha Baker, Uxbridge ) 51°31′40″N 0°28′27″W / 51.5277°N 0.4743°W / 51.5277; -0.4743 (Natasha Baker, Cowley )
Danielle Brown
Archery – Women's individual compound
Skipton [ 47]
Swadford Street
53°57′37″N 2°01′07″W / 53.9602°N 2.0185°W / 53.9602; -2.0185 (Danielle Brown, Skipton )
Mickey Bushell
Athletics – Men's 100 metres T53
Telford
Arleston Lane[ 48]
52°41′44″N 2°29′57″W / 52.6955°N 2.4992°W / 52.6955; -2.4992 (Mickey Bushell, Arleston )
Sophie Christiansen
Equestrian – Individual championship test grade Ia Equestrian – Team Equestrian – Individual freestyle test grade Ia
Sunningdale [ 49] Maidenhead [ 13] Egham [ 13]
London Road[ 49] High Street[ 13] Royal Holloway College [ 13]
51°23′34″N 0°37′44″W / 51.3928°N 0.6290°W / 51.3928; -0.6290 (Sophie Christiansen, Sunningdale ) 51°31′22″N 0°43′11″W / 51.5228°N 0.7197°W / 51.5228; -0.7197 (Sophie Christiansen, Egham ) 51°25′33″N 0°34′06″W / 51.4257°N 0.5682°W / 51.4257; -0.5682 (Sophie Christiansen, Maidenhead )
Hannah Cockroft
Athletics – Women's 100m – T34 Athletics – Women's 200m – T34
Halifax [ 50] Halifax[ 51]
Town Hall, Crossley Street[ 50] Mount Tabor Road[ 51]
53°43′27″N 1°51′38″W / 53.7241°N 1.8605°W / 53.7241; -1.8605 (Hannah Cockroft, Halifax ) 53°44′26″N 1°55′11″W / 53.7406°N 1.9196°W / 53.7406; -1.9196 (Hannah Cockroft, Halifax )
Mark Colbourne
Cycling – Men's individual pursuit
Tredegar ,[ 13] [ 52]
Commercial Street[ 13] [ 52]
51°46′32″N 3°14′46″W / 51.7756°N 3.2462°W / 51.7756; -3.2462 (Mark Colbourne, Tredegar )
Josef Craig
Swimming – Men's 400-metre freestyle S7
Jarrow [ 53]
Grange Road[ 13] [ 53]
54°58′53″N 1°29′23″W / 54.9813°N 1.4896°W / 54.9813; -1.4896 (Josef Craig, Jarrow )
Deborah Criddle
Equestrian – Team
Trull [ 54]
Church Road[ 54]
50°59′40″N 3°07′18″W / 50.9944°N 3.1217°W / 50.9944; -3.1217 (Deborah Criddle, Trull )
Aled Davies
Athletics – Men's discus throw F42
Bridgend [ 55]
Gentle Way[ 55]
51°30′06″N 3°36′04″W / 51.5017°N 3.6012°W / 51.5017; -3.6012 (Aled Davies, Bridgend )
Neil Fachie
Cycling – Men's individual sprint B
Aberdeen [ 56]
Golden Square[ 13]
57°08′46″N 2°06′19″W / 57.1462°N 2.1053°W / 57.1462; -2.1053 (Neil Fachie, Aberdeen )
Bethany Firth *
Swimming – Women's 100-metre backstroke S14
Seaforde , County Down [ 57]
Newcastle Road[ 58]
54°18′23″N 5°50′28″W / 54.3064°N 5.8411°W / 54.3064; -5.8411 (Bethany Firth, Seaforde )
Jonathan Fox
Swimming – Men's 100-metre backstroke S7
St Stephen-in-Brannel [ 59]
Fore Street[ 13] [ 59]
50°20′37″N 4°53′27″W / 50.3437°N 4.8908°W / 50.3437; -4.8908 (Jonathan Fox, St Stephen-in-Brannel )
Heather Frederiksen
Swimming – Women's 100-metre backstroke S8
Leigh [ 60]
Market Street[ 13]
53°29′53″N 2°31′08″W / 53.4981°N 2.5189°W / 53.4981; -2.5189 (Heather Frederiksen, Leigh )
Oliver Hynd
Swimming – Men's 200-metre individual medley SM8
Kirkby-in-Ashfield [ 13]
Chapel Street[ 13]
53°04′57″N 1°15′09″W / 53.0825°N 1.2524°W / 53.0825; -1.2524 (Oliver Hynd, Kirkby-in-Ashfield )
Anthony Kappes
Cycling – Men's sprint
Chapel-en-le-Frith [ 13]
Market Street[ 13]
53°19′29″N 1°54′31″W / 53.3248°N 1.9086°W / 53.3248; -1.9086 (Anthony Kappes, Chapel-en-le-Frith )
Helena Lucas
Sailing – One Person Keelboat – 2.4 Metre
Easton [ 61]
Pound Piece[ 13] [ 61]
50°32′34″N 2°26′40″W / 50.542657°N 2.444399°W / 50.542657; -2.444399 (Helena Lucas, Easton )
Craig MacLean
Cycling – Men's sprint
Grantown-on-Spey [ 62] Wilmslow
High Street, A939[ 62] Alderley Road[ 39]
57°19′50″N 3°36′31″W / 57.3306°N 3.6086°W / 57.3306; -3.6086 (Craig MacLean, Grantown-on-Spey ) 53°19′34″N 2°13′52″W / 53.3261°N 2.2312°W / 53.3261; -2.2312 (Victoria Pendleton and Craig MacLean, Wilmslow )
Michael McKillop *
Athletics – Men's 800 metres T37 Athletics – Men's 1500 metres T37
Glengormley [ 57]
Sandyknowes Roundabout[ 63]
54°40′35″N 5°58′14″W / 54.6763°N 5.9705°W / 54.6763; -5.9705 (Michael McKillop, Glengormley )
Jonnie Peacock
Athletics – Men's 100 metres T44
Doddington [ 64] [ 65]
New Street
52°29′45″N 0°03′36″E / 52.4959°N 0.0600°E / 52.4959; 0.0600 (Jonnie Peacock, Doddington )
Josie Pearson
Athletics – Women's discus throw F51/52/53
Hay-on-Wye [ 13] [ 66]
Church Street[ 13]
52°04′24″N 3°07′41″W / 52.0732°N 3.1281°W / 52.0732; -3.1281 (Josie Pearson, Hay-on-Wye )
Lee Pearson
Equestrian – Team
Bagnall [ 67]
School Road[ 67]
53°03′20″N 2°06′30″W / 53.0555°N 2.1083°W / 53.0555; -2.1083 (Lee Pearson, Bagnall )
Pam Relph
Rowing – Mixed coxed four
Weston Turville [ 68]
Main Street, (Brick pillar)[ 13] [ 68]
51°47′24″N 0°45′46″W / 51.7899°N 0.7627°W / 51.7899; -0.7627 (Pam Relph, Weston Turville )
Naomi Riches
Rowing – Mixed coxed four
Marlow [ 69]
High Street[ 69]
51°34′14″N 0°46′32″W / 51.5706°N 0.7756°W / 51.5706; -0.7756 (Naomi Riches, Marlow )
James Roe
Rowing – Mixed coxed four
Stratford-upon-Avon [ 70]
Bridge Street[ 70]
52°11′34″N 1°42′22″W / 52.1928°N 1.7060°W / 52.1928; -1.7060 (James Roe, Stratford upon Avon )
Ellie Simmonds
Swimming – Women's 400m freestyle S6 Swimming – Women's 200-metre individual medley SM6
Aldridge Swansea [ 71]
High Street[ 72] Trawler Road[ 71]
52°36′18″N 1°54′56″W / 52.6050°N 1.9155°W / 52.6050; -1.9155 (Eleanor Simmonds, Aldridge ) 51°36′53″N 3°56′19″W / 51.6148°N 3.9385°W / 51.6148; -3.9385 (Eleanor Simmonds, Swansea )
David Smith
Rowing – Mixed coxed four
Aviemore [ 73]
Grampian Road[ 13]
57°11′33″N 3°49′43″W / 57.1925°N 3.8285°W / 57.1925; -3.8285 (Dave Smith, Aviemore )
Jason Smyth *
Athletics – Men's 100 metres T13 Athletics – Men's 200 metres T13
Eglinton [ 57]
Woodvale Road[ 74]
55°01′36″N 7°10′44″W / 55.0267°N 7.1789°W / 55.0267; -7.1789 (Jason Smyth, Eglinton )
Stoke Mandeville Hospital
2012 Summer Paralympics
Aylesbury [ 75]
National Spinal Injuries Centre, Entrance 3, Lower Road[ 75]
51°47′51″N 0°48′19″W / 51.7976°N 0.8054°W / 51.7976; -0.8054 (Stoke Mandeville Hospital )
David Stone
Cycling – Mixed road race T1-2
Rawdon [ 76]
Town Street
53°51′00″N 1°40′18″W / 53.8499°N 1.6716°W / 53.8499; -1.6716 (David Stone, Rawdon )
Sarah Storey
Cycling – Women's individual pursuit C5 Cycling – Women's 500m time trial C4-5 Cycling – Women's road time trial C5 Cycling – Women's road race C4–5
Disley [ 77] Poynton Eccles [ 13] Macclesfield [ 13]
Buxton Road[ 77] Poynton High School [ 78] Gilda Brook Road[ 13] Market Place[ 13]
53°21′33″N 2°01′50″W / 53.3591°N 2.0305°W / 53.3591; -2.0305 (Sarah Storey, Disley ) 53°20′43″N 2°06′43″W / 53.3452°N 2.1119°W / 53.3452; -2.1119 (Sarah Storey, Poynton ) 53°29′20″N 2°19′35″W / 53.4890°N 2.3265°W / 53.4890; -2.3265 (Sarah Storey, Eccles ) 53°15′41″N 2°07′32″W / 53.2614°N 2.1255°W / 53.2614; -2.1255 (Sarah Storey, Macclesfield )
Barney Storey
Cycling – Men's individual sprint B
Disley
Market Street[ 78]
53°21′34″N 2°02′16″W / 53.3594°N 2.0377°W / 53.3594; -2.0377 (Barney Storey, Disley )
Lily van den Broecke
Rowing – Mixed coxed four
Oxford [ 79]
Divinity Road [ 79]
51°45′00″N 1°13′30″W / 51.7499°N 1.2250°W / 51.7499; -1.2250 (Lily van den Broecke, Oxford )
David Weir
Athletics – Men's 5000 metres Athletics – Men's 1500 metres T54 Athletics – Men's 800 metres T54 Athletics – Men's marathon
Wallington [ 13] Wallington [ 13] Wallington [ 13] Wallington [ 13]
Woodcote Road[ 13] Mollison Square[ 13] Foresters Drive[ 13] Mollison Drive[ 13]
51°21′32″N 0°08′59″W / 51.358757°N 0.149732°W / 51.358757; -0.149732 (David Weir, Wallington ) 51°21′12″N 0°08′04″W / 51.3533°N 0.1345°W / 51.3533; -0.1345 (David Weir, Wallington ) 51°21′11″N 0°08′15″W / 51.3531°N 0.1376°W / 51.3531; -0.1376 (David Weir, Wallington ) 51°21′15″N 0°07′45″W / 51.3541°N 0.1292°W / 51.3541; -0.1292 (David Weir, Wallington )
Sophie Wells
Equestrian – Team
Lincoln [ 80]
Exchequergate[ 80]
53°14′04″N 0°32′19″W / 53.2344°N 0.5385°W / 53.2344; -0.5385 (Sophie Wells, Lincoln )
Richard Whitehead
Athletics – Men's 200 metres T42
Lowdham [ 81] [ 82]
Main Street[ 81]
53°00′43″N 1°00′17″W / 53.0120°N 1.0048°W / 53.0120; -1.0048 (Richard Whitehead, Lowdham )
Stamps
In addition to the post boxes a first class stamp depicting each medal-winning individual or team was produced.[ 4] [ 83]
See also
References
^ "Case Study: Royal Mail" . Eulogy!. August 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2016 .
^ a b "Peter Kennaugh Olympic win marked with gold postbox" . BBC News. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012 .
^ a b "Gold postbox honours Sark's Carl Hester Olympic dressage win" . BBC News. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012 .
^ a b c d e "Royal Mail goes Gold this summer" . Royal Mail . 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ "Olympics win: Gold post box honours Heather Stanning" . BBC News. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ "Penzance post box painted gold for Olympian Helen Glover" . BBC News. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ Silverman, Rosa (15 August 2012). "Royal Mail says Paralympic gold medallists will get individual stamps after all" . The Telegraph . Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ Diaz, Alex (16 August 2012). "Paralympic Games British gold medal winners to be celebrated with first class stamps" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ "Eglinton Paralympian Smyth misses out on gold post box" . BBC News. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012 .
^ a b "Gold post boxes for NI Paralympian heroes" . BBC News. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012 .
^ "Golden postboxes to keep their sheen to honour British athletes" . BBC News. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012 .
^ "Olympics 2012: Royal Mail unveils special stamps to celebrate GB gold medal winners" . Birmingham Mail . 2 August 2012.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch "Gold Postbox Finder" . Royal Mail . Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ a b c "Post box marks birthplace of Olympic cyclist" . Your Local Guardian .
^ a b "Ben Ainslie post box: Royal Mail U-turn in Lymington" . BBC News. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ a b c "Olympic canoeist Tim Baillie gets second gold post box in Westhill" . BBC News. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ "Laura Trott golden postbox painted in Harlow by mistake" . BBC News . 8 August 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2023 .
^ "Henley-on-Thames rowers get gold post box" . BBC News. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ Jones, Jonathan (14 August 2012). "How Olympic gold gave Britain a fresh coat of patriotism" . The Guardian . Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b c d "Andy Murray and Kat Copeland's gold post boxes damaged" . The Telegraph . Press Association. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ Hendry, Arron (22 August 2012). "Gold post box in Lymington now officially in Ainslee's honour" . Bournemouth Daily Echo . Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ Adams, India (8 September 2012). "Gold Post Box in Jarrow For Teenage Paralympic Hero Josef Craig" . Sky News. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ "Alistair Brownlee golden post box vandalised in Leeds" . BBC News. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ Hutchinson, Lisa (13 September 2012). "Josef Craig's gold postbox in Jarrow is vandalised" . Evening Chronicle . Retrieved 19 September 2012 .
^ "Jessica's gold post box vandalised" . The Belfast Telegraph . 8 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ "Silver postbox turns red again" . thisisdorset.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2012 .
^ "Doddington postbox painted bronze for hockey team win" . The Lincolnite. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012 .
^ "Doddington post box painted bronze by hockey fans" . BBC News. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ "Anthony Ogogo gets bronze post box in Lowestoft" . BBC News. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ Topping, Alexandra (15 August 2012). "Royal Mail's Olympic post box-painting inspires public copycat campaign" . The Guardian . Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ Gorst, Paul (20 February 2014). "Vandals paint Lizzy Yarnold's postbox GOLD after Royal Mail denied pleas to recognise Sochi winner" . Daily Mirror .
^ "Postboxes painted for medallists" . BBC. 27 September 2012.
^ "Guernsey Post commemorates 100th Anniversary of Olympic Gold Medal winner" .
^ "Ben Ainslie: Lymington gold post box painter arrested" . BBC News. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012 .
^ Council, Manchester City. "Manchester City Council news" . Government of the United Kingdom.
^ Studios, Via (7 August 2012). "Golden Post Box in Elsenham for Ben Maher - Alan Dean" . alandean.mycouncillor.org.uk .
^ "London" . London .
^ "Olympic postboxes to remain gold" . BBC. 2 November 2012.
^ a b "Golden goodwill continues" .
^ "Second golden post box for Olympic champ Joanna Rowsell" . Your Local Guardian .
^ "Second gold post box for Nick Skelton in Bedworth" . BBC News. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012 .
^ a b c O'Ceallaigh, John (22 March 2018). "Where can I find Royal Mail's gold post boxes in London?" . The Telegraph – via The Daily Telegraph.
^ a b Scotter, Kate (4 September 2012). "Norfolk postbox painted gold to celebrate Jessica-Jane Applegate's Paralympic Games win" . Norwich Evening News . Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ Baldock, Andrew (4 September 2012). "Equestrianism: Natasha Baker cooks up a storm but Lee Pearson fails" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ Armytage, Marcus (3 September 2012). "Paralympics 2012: Natasha Baker wins second dressage gold medal with record score on Cabral" . The Telegraph . Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ "Danielle Brown's win celebrated with ParalympicsGB Gold Medal stamp" . Royal Mail . 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ "Shropshire postboxes unofficially painted gold" . BBC Sport. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ a b "Gold post box for golden girl Sophie" . Bracknell News . 3 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ a b "First pictures of Hannah Cockroft's gold post box" . Halifax Courier . 1 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ a b "Location of Hannah Cockroft's second golden post box revealed" . Halifax Courier . 20 September 2012.
^ a b "Mark Colbourne's gold postbox honour after Paralympics win" . BBC News. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012 .
^ a b "Josef Craig celebrated with gold Jarrow postbox" . BBC News. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012 .
^ a b "Somerset's Deb Criddle gets gold postbox 2012 honour" . BBC News. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012 .
^ a b "Gold post box for Bridgend's Aled Davies" . BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2012 .
^ "Aberdeen cyclist Neil Fachie's win marked by special stamp" . BBC News. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012 .
^ a b c "Golden postboxes delivered for Paralympic heroes" . The Belfast Telegraph . 18 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012 .
^ "2012 Paralympic Games – Bethany Firth* – Swimming – Women's 100-metre backstroke S14" . Special Postboxes . 15 October 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2024 .
^ a b "St Stephen postbox painted gold after Jonathan Fox medal win" . BBC News. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ "Heather Frederiksen's win celebrated with ParalympicsGB Gold Medal stamp" . Royal Mail . 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b Kitching, Laura (8 September 2012). "Paralympic sailing star gives Portland post box the golden touch" . Dorset Echo . Retrieved 11 September 2012 .
^ a b Crowther, Stuart (4 September 2012). "Moray gets a second gold post box in honour of cyclist Craig MacLean" . STV. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
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^ Aspin, Guy (8 September 2012). "Paralympic Games: Josie Pearson sets three world records for discus gold" . The Scotsman . Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b "Gold post box to honour Lee" . The Sentinel . 7 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b "UPDATED: Rower's golden display results in dazzling new post box in Weston Turville" . The Bucks Herald . 5 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b Nadal, James (3 September 2012). "Marlow's post box turning gold after Paralympics success" . Bucks Free Press . Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b "Paralympian James Roe gets Warwickshire gold postbox honour" . BBC News. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b "Paralympian Ellie Simmonds Swansea gold postbox honour" . BBC News. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ Authi, Jasbir (3 September 2012). "Aldridge postbox painted gold to honour Paralympian Ellie Simmonds" . Birmingham Mail . Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
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^ a b "Gold Post Boxes Launched For ParalympicsGB Gold Medal Winners" . Pocklington Post . 29 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ "Paralympian David Stone gets gold postbox in Rawdon" . BBC News. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
^ a b Britton, Paul (31 August 2012). "Post box to be painted gold in Disley to mark local girl Sarah Storey's Paralympic triumph" . Manchester Evening News . Retrieved 10 September 2012 .
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^ Smith, Becky (2 September 2012). "Gold postbox in Lowdham following Paralympics victory" . this is Nottingham. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012 .
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External links