Islanders Back Pete’s Postbox

From MHKs to tour guides, residents to local authorities, islanders are rallying behind Olympic gold medalist Pete Kennaugh after a postbox painted gold to celebrate his win was repainted.

Isle of Man Post Office repainted Onchan’s main postbox red as it was refurbishing ones around the island. In the UK, gold postboxes have been maintained since 2012, with some even been given plaques to explain their history.

Having spoken of his disappointment at the decision, which was taken without his knowledge, Pete has found support with Garff MHK Daphne Caine, who tweeted: ‘ Bad decision! @IOMPOSTOFFICE Rethink please as much support for a gold paint job for Onchan postbox I’ll always remember how generous @Petekennaugh was arriving home #iom after #London2012 and you’ll always be a hero to my 2 who remember this every time we pass the gold postbox.’

Castletown Commissioners went further and offered to paint one of the island’s ancient capital’s postboxes gold in its place, calling the decision ‘an own goal’.

Businessman Ged Power also criticised the decision, noted that the postbox was a popular curiosity to show to tourists, even joking he would have to amend his script to: ‘See that postbox? It’s not always been red.’

Pete told Gef: ‘My kids weren’t born when I did the Olympics, so we get to drive past it everyday, they post their letters to Santa in it and I get to tell them the Olympic story. 

‘Obviously that’s a selfish reason to keep it going but it’s a really nice memory that I get to relive every time I pass it with the kids. But also I’d like to think it was inspiring for any others if they asked why it’s gold “because so and so won a gold medal in 2012”, that alone could inspire someone to get on a bike or take up a sport, at least in my mind. Sentimentally, that’s why I feel it’s a bit of a shame.’

Gef is awaiting a response to our request for comment from the gov, with a spokesman saying they had liased with Isle of Man Post Office’s comms team.