In the depths of antiquity when civilizations yearned for connections across vast distances, runners traversed treacherous terrains carrying messages in their faithful hands, displaying the first inklings of an ancient postal system. This evolved into public letter receptacles in the Renaissance period, until Europe and America witnessed an unprecedented postal revolution with post boxes set up in every street corner and public space. The grand Postal Museum located in Phoenix Place is home to over 200 original post boxes, which have grown to become incredibly prominent and noticeable in England.
In fact, a Royal Mail post box stands within half a mile of over 98% of the population. There are around a whopping 115,500 pillar, wall, and lamp boxes across the UK. Numbers are the least impressive aspect of post boxes, however, as demonstrated by the COO at Royal Mail Group: "They represent the living history of communication", Sue Whalley declares, "which forms an important aspect of our daily lives...each [post box] has a story to tell and many have particular meaning for local communities."
Certainly on a local level, therefore, there is much respect and status associated with post-boxes. It is for this reason that it is startling to identify a post box in Pinner, London which does not match any of the boxes in the Museum at all. Why is it not identical to any of these 200 renowned post boxes? The answer is peculiar: because it had been dressed at its brow with a colourful garment.
The nature of the crime prompts the use of the associated noun, though it may seem slightly ostentatious to report the incident to the authorities as a case of vandalism on account of the mystery of the motivation behind such an action. Having interviewed locals about the patterned tablecloth which had been draped over the head of the post box like a sun hat, it was clear that they shared this bewilderment:
"I was walking home from work earlier this week", one interviewee mentioned, "when I saw my friend in the distance dressed in his usual eccentric clothing...but as I got closer, I realised that it was just a postbox at the turn of the road." Another local described their frustrated reaction, revealing "I went to post a letter to my sister a few days ago...when I finally arrived at the postbox, I was appalled to see the top covered in a beautiful silk cloth covered in flowers and art - I thought to myself, what a waste of such a fine piece of textile! I went back home that afternoon in an outrage."
What these locals did not know, and perhaps you may not either, is that this is far from peculiar. In fact, post box toppers are remarkably common across London, designed to be used as a tribute, commemoration, or for public enjoyment. For instance, toppers have been used to pay tribute to NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic, for Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, and in September 2022 as a tribute upon her death.
In an ironic conclusion, therefore, what seems on the surface as something transcending the realms of the ordinary and even perhaps entering the realm of crime, was and is in reality a national jest aimed to ultimately connect the people of the country - even more so than the post boxes, labelled by the Postal Museum as the world's first social network, do themselves. One myth remains unbusted, however, and that is the identity of the man - or woman - behind this incredible stunt; indeed, the people of Pinner are optimistic that this individual steps forward and shares his secret with the community, which has only been strengthened by their creative introduction of the topper to their somewhat embellished town.
