Gold postbox petition sent to Royal Mail

A petition calling for Royal Mail to paint a Marlow postbox gold has received more than 300 signatures.

The Marlow FM campaign has been launched to see the town's unique contribution to rowing success at London 2012 and previous games officially recognised.

It has listed a string of Olympic greats from Marlow groomed for success on the waters of the Thames.

They include four-time gold medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave along with fellow golden rowers Greg Searle and Zac Purchase.

London 2012 winner Katherine Grainger is also a member of Marlow Rowing Club along with Olympian Sarah Winckless.

The call for recognition was launched soon after Sir Chris Hoy surpassed Redgrave's medal haul and it was announced a postbox would be repainted in his hometown of Edinburgh.

Grainger's hometown of Aberdeen will also get a specially marked box - but there has been no announcement about Marlow.

After reaching 284 signatures the petition was posted to Royal Mail chief executive Maya Greene along with a letter which starts: "We doubt there's a location in the UK that suits a golden postbox more than Marlow."

Marlow FM's Dave Hampton who began the petition has had support from residents and athletes.

"The town is determined," he said. "We have an Olympic grade campaign, there isn't a town with a stronger case. It would be popular and applauded by the whole nation, not just Marlow.

"We will not give up on this."

The petition is also available online and has topped 300 names since the hard copy was posted.

Marlow Town Mayor, Cllr Jocelyn Towns, has also given her support.

Mrs Towns said: "I fully support a gold letterbox in Marlow, given the Olympic history we have in the town and the three medals that have been won so far."

Royal Mail spokesman, Sally Hopkins, said: “Royal Mail is delighted to mark the achievement of Team GB athletes winning gold medals at London 2012 – either individually or as part of a team. Each of these gold medal winners have had a postbox painted gold in the community they are, or have been closely associated with. This could be where they were born, where they grew up or where they presently live and we look at all these factors before reaching a considered choice."

Visit: change.org/en-GB/petitions/royal-mail-golden-post-box-es-for-marlow-please