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Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie's 'unofficial' gold postbox to stay | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A postbox unofficially painted gold in honour of Sir Ben Ainslie's Olympic success is to stay forever. | |
Rob Smith was arrested after making his own tribute to the sailor, who lives in the Hampshire town of Lymington. | Rob Smith was arrested after making his own tribute to the sailor, who lives in the Hampshire town of Lymington. |
Royal Mail had earlier painted a postbox in Cornwall where Sir Ben grew up. It complained to police over the Hampshire paint-job. | |
It later dropped its objections and has confirmed it will stay gold like all 111 official postboxes across Britain. | It later dropped its objections and has confirmed it will stay gold like all 111 official postboxes across Britain. |
'Vandalism' | 'Vandalism' |
It has also been given a new coat of paint by Royal Mail, as have the two other gold postboxes in Hampshire dedicated to Hamble cyclist Dani King and Alton equestrian Peter Charles. | It has also been given a new coat of paint by Royal Mail, as have the two other gold postboxes in Hampshire dedicated to Hamble cyclist Dani King and Alton equestrian Peter Charles. |
Mr Smith was held by police for criminal damage following Sir Ben's fourth Olympic gold medal at the London Games. | |
Following a campaign and intervention from the sailor himself, police later said they would be taking no further action after Royal Mail's complaint of "vandalism" was withdrawn. | |
Sir Ben has lived in the Hampshire coastal town for 12 years and is an honorary life member of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. | |
Royal Mail honoured gold medallists by painting postboxes in their hometown and will look after their maintenance in the future. | Royal Mail honoured gold medallists by painting postboxes in their hometown and will look after their maintenance in the future. |
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