1835 coach driver was drunk at the reins!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/new ... _the_reins_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MYSTERY surrounds the cause of damage to Britain’s earliest-known monument to the perils of drink-driving, Llandovery town councillors have been told.

The Mail Coach Pillar on the Brecon-Llandovery stretch of the A40 trunk road marks the spot where the doomed Gloucester and Carmarthen mail coach – driver Edward Jenkins drunk at the reins – plunged over a 121ft precipice and into a river shortly before Christmas 1835.

The monument is in a poor state of repair, but Cllr Robin Ennion told colleagues he had not established how large chunks had come to be scattered around the lay-by where the battered obelisk stands.

“Theories as to how it came to get like this range from a JCB or a truck making a three-point turn to a bolt of lightning,” he said.

But Cllr Ennion – who is also Llandovery’s postmaster – was able to reveal that the old monument was poised to receive its first face-lift in 80 years, following a recent visit from the curator of the British Postal Museum.

“Royal Mail have agreed to finance its renovation and its now up to Brecon Beacons National Park, who own the monument, to go ahead with it,” he said.

“This could be the only external Post Office monument in the whole of the UK and its very pleasing to learn Royal Mail are going to restore it.”

During a wild ride, Jenkins – with three passengers clinging grimly to the stagecoach roof and two inside – careered at a furious pace on to the wrong side of the road, only to meet a cart coming the other way. Luckily, all survived.

The monument was subsequently erected in 1841 by the Royal Mail as a warning to its drivers “of the dangers of driving whilst intoxicated”.

Earlier this year, Llandovery town councillor Gill Wright aid that Channel Four were planning to screen a documentary on the story behind the Mail Coach Pillar.

[pinstripe]

"Earlier this year, Llandovery town councillor Gill Wright aid that Channel Four were planning to screen a documentary on the story behind the Mail Coach Pillar."

Not another Dispatches! Just wait till they find out it was the year, not the time.

[NWpostie]

Didn't we discuss this thread last year ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Didn't we discuss this thread last year ?

Yep twice before 28 Nov 2009 http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... ry#p219583" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and 25 May 2011 http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... ry#p388803" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

its taking a long time to repair.

[borgpicard]

So Royal Fail is gonn finance this thing ?????? but they couldnt find the MONEY FOR OUR SHARES ????, can anyone else see this ???