News 30 September 2020
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Royal Mail Unveil 4 Special Postboxes To Mark Black History Month

30 September 2020
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Four Royal Mail postboxes have been painted black to mark the beginning of Black History Month (1st October).

The postboxes, which are located in London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast, each contain an image of an influential figure in the black British community.

Located in Acre Lane, Brixton, the postbox in London has the image “Queuing at the RA”, by Yinka Shonibare. He was one of the few artists who produced original art work for the Royal Mail to honour the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy.

The postbox in Byres Road, Glasgow showcases Walter Tall who was the first black footballer to sign for Rangers, before being killed in the British army in 1918. 

Cardiff’s postbox in King Edward VII Avenue features Mary Seacole – a Jamaican born nurse, who treated harmed British Soldiers that fought in the Crimean War, whilst Sir Lenny Henry’s image can be found on the postbox on Bedford Street, Belfast. 

Speaking about his art work, Yinka Shonibare said: “As a citizen of the Commonwealth, it was particularly important to me to be making a visible contribution in a historic public place.”

Royal Mail’s head of diversity and inclusion, Peter De Norville, said: “Black History Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions that black people have made to this country over many generations.

“We are also using it as an opportunity to celebrate the vital work that our black employees do throughout the nation, from the mail bag to the meeting room.”