No charges as Royal Mail says town can have golden post box (From Daily Echo)
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No charges as Royal Mail says Lymington can have golden post box
1:00pm Thursday 16th August 2012 in New Forest
By Chris Yandell, Chief Reporter, New Forest
Rob Smith and the post box in Lymington
ROYAL Mail chiefs have done a U-turn and agreed to paint a Hampshire post box gold in honour of Olympic sailing hero Ben Ainslie .
The pillar box near Ben’s Lymington home will be given an official golden glow after bosses backed down in the face of a huge campaign in the town.
And the Daily Echo can today also reveal that police have decided to take no further action against Lymington businessman Rob Smith, who illegally painted the High Street box himself last Saturday.
Mr Smith was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage but will not now face any charges. Last night the 54-year-old businessman was overjoyed at the latest developments.
Mr Smith was working in his bar and restaurant at Lymington Yacht Haven when the Daily Echo contacted him and broke the news that the Royal Mail had backed down. He said: “I’m over the moon. It’s all I ever wanted for Ben, for Lymington, and everyone who has supported the campaign.”
Describing the decision as a victory for common sense, he added: “Thousands of people wanted the post box to be painted gold – I’m just the person who did it.
“Now it’s going to be done officially. The Royal Mail has been swayed by public opinion and has taken a very sensible decision.”
The town mayor, Councillor Jacqui England, also welcomed the climbdown.
“It’s really good that they’ve seen sense at the end of the day and listened to the public,” she said.
Over the past 16 years Ben has won four gold medals and a silver, making him the most successful sailor in Olympic history.
Following his latest triumph in Weymouth almost two weeks ago Lymington residents assumed that the Royal Mail would paint one of the town’s letter boxes gold in recognition of his achievement.
But bosses decided that the tribute should be staged in Restronguet, Cornwall, where Ben grew up and learnt to sail.
Last night officials backed down after approaching Ben and his agent, who were asked for their views.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “There’s been a huge amount of interest in this. We understand the depth of feeling – Ben’s a local hero and sailing is very much part of the community.
“Ben loves the gold post box in Restronguet but would love to have one in Lymington as well – and we’re happy to oblige.”
Police said the decision to take no further action against Mr Smith was agreed before the Royal Mail changed its mind.
Comments(24)
Of the Ilk
says...
1:31pm Thu 16 Aug 12
boobooj wrote:Come off it - you try to spray paint a post box quckly in the middle of the night and do a perfect job - but perhaps you are Superman!
He could've done a better paint job; I can see gold paint all running down the black base of the post box.
sentinel1
says...
1:44pm Thu 16 Aug 12
1.what was going through PC Plod's mind when Mr. Smith was arrested? 2.How can Hampshire Police possibly just this action?
3.How stupid can the Royal Mail bemaking a fuss about this when they can't even paint the right post boxes themselves?
Privatise them both and then teh tax payer would get value for money and an extra laugh.
Of the Ilk
says...
2:04pm Thu 16 Aug 12
sentinel1 wrote:Do you raelly want policing done by a private firm that is purely interested in making a profit for shareholders.
You have got to ask:
1.what was going through PC Plod's mind when Mr. Smith was arrested? 2.How can Hampshire Police possibly just this action?
3.How stupid can the Royal Mail bemaking a fuss about this when they can't even paint the right post boxes themselves?
Privatise them both and then teh tax payer would get value for money and an extra laugh.
Even the USA do not have a private police force except for patolling private property.
RRT
says...
2:27pm Thu 16 Aug 12
elvisimo
says...
2:55pm Thu 16 Aug 12
RRT wrote:ask them?
I wonder if the Post Office have painted a postbox Gold in Mogadishu in honour of Mo Farah?
elvisimo
says...
2:58pm Thu 16 Aug 12
sentinel1 wrote:its vandalism the same as grafitti. They are there to do a job. They see some fat bloke with spray cans in the middle of the night - what do you suggest they do? - help him?
You have got to ask: 1.what was going through PC Plod's mind when Mr. Smith was arrested? 2.How can Hampshire Police possibly just this action? 3.How stupid can the Royal Mail bemaking a fuss about this when they can't even paint the right post boxes themselves? Privatise them both and then teh tax payer would get value for money and an extra laugh.
sarfhamton
says...
3:11pm Thu 16 Aug 12
RRT wrote:He came to here as a small child and he seems more proud to be British than most of the layabouts born here.
I wonder if the Post Office have painted a postbox Gold in Mogadishu in honour of Mo Farah?
dopplershift
says...
3:38pm Thu 16 Aug 12
.
Personally paint the bl00dy thing gold and move on with life. This story has gathered to much print already. I'm off the the Haven...
Frank28
says...
4:30pm Thu 16 Aug 12
Huffter
says...
6:13pm Thu 16 Aug 12
Frank28 wrote:Must be very difficult to recognise a post box if it's not red.
But Royal Mail haven't said how long it will remain gold - a matter of weeks or permanently? Red is the identifier for post boxes in this country, so I would expect it to return to red at some stage.
Personally I very rarely use them - I bought a card for my cousin's birthday recently... the card cost me 20p... the stamp to post it cost £1.20.
Sir Ad E Noid
says...
8:25pm Thu 16 Aug 12
elvisimo wrote:Could not have put it better. Painting it in the first place was vandalism, even if it was what everybody wants. I can guarantee you one thing, he does not speak or act for the people of Lymington
sentinel1 wrote:its vandalism the same as grafitti. They are there to do a job. They see some fat bloke with spray cans in the middle of the night - what do you suggest they do? - help him?
You have got to ask: 1.what was going through PC Plod's mind when Mr. Smith was arrested? 2.How can Hampshire Police possibly just this action? 3.How stupid can the Royal Mail bemaking a fuss about this when they can't even paint the right post boxes themselves? Privatise them both and then teh tax payer would get value for money and an extra laugh.
VAGINADINER
says...
9:29pm Thu 16 Aug 12
...Pity he didn't come from New Milton, I'd have sprayed half the town gold!
(Have some pride in your own people, and show it to EVERYONE..)
Poppy22
says...
10:20pm Thu 16 Aug 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
10:27pm Thu 16 Aug 12
elvisimo wrote:How about a chuckle and walk away, seems the cheapest option, this will be temporary I imagine and all will be restored to boring Post Office red in good time, nothing to get upset about, much more important things to worry about.
sentinel1 wrote:its vandalism the same as grafitti. They are there to do a job. They see some fat bloke with spray cans in the middle of the night - what do you suggest they do? - help him?
You have got to ask: 1.what was going through PC Plod's mind when Mr. Smith was arrested? 2.How can Hampshire Police possibly just this action? 3.How stupid can the Royal Mail bemaking a fuss about this when they can't even paint the right post boxes themselves? Privatise them both and then teh tax payer would get value for money and an extra laugh.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
10:34pm Thu 16 Aug 12
BillyTheKid
says...
10:45pm Thu 16 Aug 12
I'm not attempting to diminish the Olympic achievements - far from it. Call me a cynic, but I think the Post Office are just grabbing a PR opportunity - you know, getting in on the act, gatecrashing the party.
What about the silver and bronze medallists ? Shouldn't they have been honoured in the same way ?
To me, it's the same mindset that produced the daubing of "Happy Birthday, Kev" on a bedsheet and hanging it up at a roundabout.
beesdee
says...
12:41pm Fri 17 Aug 12
At what point do they surreptitiously paint it red again?
Regarding the 'Happy Birthday, Kev' set, why is it that they can be bothered to find a sheet, paint it and hang it up, but then leave it to get torn to shreds in the wind and rain for weeks before the council takes it down? Still, as long as Kev's happy.
Torchie1
says...
7:00pm Fri 17 Aug 12
Sir Ad E Noid wrote:I haven't spoken to one person in Lymington who doesn't support Rob, so you're not quite as accurate as you'd like to think.
elvisimo wrote:Could not have put it better. Painting it in the first place was vandalism, even if it was what everybody wants. I can guarantee you one thing, he does not speak or act for the people of Lymington
sentinel1 wrote:its vandalism the same as grafitti. They are there to do a job. They see some fat bloke with spray cans in the middle of the night - what do you suggest they do? - help him?
You have got to ask: 1.what was going through PC Plod's mind when Mr. Smith was arrested? 2.How can Hampshire Police possibly just this action? 3.How stupid can the Royal Mail bemaking a fuss about this when they can't even paint the right post boxes themselves? Privatise them both and then teh tax payer would get value for money and an extra laugh.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:11pm Fri 17 Aug 12
Sir Ad E Noid wrote:.... and neither I imagine can you? Nobody voted you in as a spokesman.
elvisimo wrote:Could not have put it better. Painting it in the first place was vandalism, even if it was what everybody wants. I can guarantee you one thing, he does not speak or act for the people of Lymington
sentinel1 wrote:its vandalism the same as grafitti. They are there to do a job. They see some fat bloke with spray cans in the middle of the night - what do you suggest they do? - help him?
You have got to ask: 1.what was going through PC Plod's mind when Mr. Smith was arrested? 2.How can Hampshire Police possibly just this action? 3.How stupid can the Royal Mail bemaking a fuss about this when they can't even paint the right post boxes themselves? Privatise them both and then teh tax payer would get value for money and an extra laugh.
memush
says...
8:24pm Fri 17 Aug 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
9:25pm Fri 17 Aug 12
Emman109
says...
11:28am Sat 18 Aug 12
ent fraud investigations prompts major gold buyer to close that THR & Associates was shut down. About two months after a significant investigative report by CBS news, a major gold buyer has shut its doors after passing bad checks among other inappropriate behavior. The gold purchaser in question, THR and Associates is under investigation by state and federal authorities for the scam.
Emman109
says...
11:29am Sat 18 Aug 12
boobooj says...
1:11pm Thu 16 Aug 12