Belfast postbox to be painted black to honour Sir Lenny Henry

Some of the nation’s landmark red postboxes are to be painted black to honour black Britons both past and present, including Sir Lenny Henry and nursing pioneer Mary Seacole.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Sep 2020, 06:20 GMT
The postbox at Bedford Street in BelfastThe postbox at Bedford Street in Belfast
The postbox at Bedford Street in Belfast

Royal Mail said that four postboxes – in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast – have been painted black with a gold trim as part of Black History Month in October.

Each of the special edition postboxes has a social media link and features a significant figure in the British black community.

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Peter De Norville, Royal Mail’s head of diversity and inclusion, 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.”

The aim is for the postboxes to help people mark the success of black Britons, Royal Mail said.

Sir Lenny Henry, the stand-up comedian, actor, singer, writer and television presenter and co-founder of the Comic Relief charity, is honoured by the postbox in Bedford Street, Belfast.

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A QR code on the postboxes can be scanned to bring up a full list, and a dedicated online gallery on the Royal Mail website, of the black Britons who have appeared on the special stamps.

The London postbox is in Acre Lane – a leading museum for the black community.

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Related topics:Royal MailBelfastGlasgowCardiff