Royal Mail painted the post boxes to celebrate Olympic golds from Andy Murray and Sophie Hosking.
Two post boxes in Wimbledon have turned gold in honour of Olympic champions Andy Murray and Sophie Hosking.
Royal Mail painted the post boxes gold last week to celebrate both athletes winning Gold medals in the London 2012 Olympics.
The post boxes are on Worple Road, and at the corner of Church and Somerset Roads.
Royal Mail spokesperson Candice Macdonald said: “We are very proud to have been able to mark Andy Murray and Sophie Hosking’s Olympic Gold medal wins by painting our post boxes gold. An Olympic Gold medal is a fantastic achievement and we hope the people of Wimbledon will enjoy a reminder of these athletes’ great success in the shape of a gold post box.”
Ms Macdonald said that Royal Mail had received lots of pictures already of people with the post boxes.
Sophie Hosking, alongside teammate Kat Copeland, won Gold in the lightweight women’s double scull at Eton Dorney.
Sophie is a Wimbledon resident, and is a former AFC Wimbledon ladies footballer. She started rowing at the age of 14 while at Kingston Grammar School after achieving a sports scholarship.
Mayor of Merton Council Councillor David Williams said: “London 2012 has been such a success. For one of them to be Merton resident is something the borough should celebrate. The athletes are local inspirations to all our young people.”
Murray won Gold for the men’s singles event at the All England Lawn and Tennis clubs in Wimbledon.
Speaking at the painting of the post box on Church Road, Judy Murray, Andy’s mother said: “I think it’s amazing. It is a lovely permanent reminder of his success, and to be able to share that with his hometown, and with Wimbledon.”
The UK is believed to be the first country to paint post boxes gold to celebrate Olympic and Paralympic gold medal wins.
It is the first occasion in modern times that Royal Mail has changed the colour of its post boxes, as red has been the standard colour since 1874.
Both athletes also feature on a 1st class stamp, with Sophie alongside teammate Kat Copeland, as Royal Mail are issuing special stamps to celebrate each Team GB Gold medal win.
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