Paralympic hero unveils lasting monument (From Sutton Guardian)

David Weir unveils plaque on Wallington's permanently gold postbox

5:00pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News By Mike Pyle

Paralympic hero David Weir unveiled a sparkling permanent monument to his success in last summer's Games.

Wheelchair racer Weir, nicknamed the Weirwolf, was on hand to officially unveil a plaque on the gold post box painted in his honour in Mollison Drive, Wallington, on Monday.

The Royal Mail painted post boxes gold in honour of winners during the summer's Games.

Initially the idea was to repaint them red but the idea proved so popular the Royal Mail decided to leave the pillar boxes in their shiny state and fit plaques to tell people about them.

The Mollison Drive post box is in recognition of his win in the men's T54 1,500m - one of four golds he won at the Paralympics.

Steve Selby, delivery director at the Royal Mail said: "David Weir’s post box has become a cherished local landmark and it’s fantastic it’s now permanently gold. We hope local residents for years to come will enjoy using this unique and very special post box, which will become a great reminder of David Weir’s success at London 2012. "

It is the first time the colour of post boxes have been changed in the Royal Mail's history. Weir's other post boxes, all around his home in Wallington, will also remain gold and feature plaques.

Weir won the T54 1,500m, the marathon, 800m and 5,000m last summer. The 33-year-old also won his sixth London Marathon, was nominated for Sports Personality of the Year and became a father for the third time.

Weir's other gold post boxes are in Woodcote Road, Foresters Drive another in Mollison Drive. These will all be fitted with plaques and given a fresh coat of paint.

Joanna Rowsell's gold post box in Cheam will also stay gold and have its own plaque.