Does this man have the most boring hobby in Britain?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Does this man have the most boring hobby in Britain? Retired postman embarks on epic mission to photograph all 115,000 of Britain's post boxes

After 13 years with the Royal Mail, you might think Peter Willis could happily spend his retirement without ever seeing another post box.

But the former postman has set himself the challenge of photographing as many of Britain's 115,000 pillar boxes as possible.

The dedicated 67-year-old has clocked up thousands of miles documenting a staggering 2,500 boxes since he embarked on his epic challenge five years ago.

Mr Willis, who worked as a Royal Mail manager before he retired in 2007, says he plans to spend the rest of his life snapping the sites dotted around the UK and Ireland.

The father-of-two said: 'It started out as a bit of a hobby but has developed into a bit of an obsession.

'I have a huge database of post boxes which I love trawling through.

'There is something wonderful about discovering a post box which is in a strange location or is particularly old but still used by people to communicate with each other.

'Royal Mail grid reference every post box and I use this when I travel to a city or part of the country, and when I’ve taken a picture of the box I strike it off the list.
I’m not sure I’ll get round all 115,000. I’ve done around 2,500 boxes but I’m always looking out for the next one.'

The retiree, who takes his long-suffering wife Dianne, 64, with him on his epic challenge, even lives near one of the rarest post boxes in the country.

Mr Willis, from Worcester, said: 'Only 160 post boxes in Britain bare the insignia of King Edward VIII.

'They were made in the 1930s but he abdicated after a fairly short reign so there was no need for any more.

'The one near me is quite special, it’s the only one we have in the whole of Worcestershire and the only other one I’ve seen on my travels was in Dunfermline in Scotland.

'Dianne comes with me most of the time on my travels.

'She’s got used to my hobby but the sweetener is we usually try and take in a musical wherever we go.

'She often stands guard if I’m in the middle of the road taking pictures as I get down on my hands and knees to record the bases, which have details of the manufacturers on them.

'She is usually consoling passing public that I’m not actually mad.

'I suppose she gets a bit fed up sometimes stood there watching me. Sometimes she’ll let me go off on my own.'

The keen amateur snapper also takes a series of artistic shots of boxes he finds in unusual or photogenic locations.

He has even programmed his sat nav to beep when he passes a post box in his car.

Over the past five years Mr Willis has photographed post boxes in Inverness, Dublin and across England.

His snapshots include a range of unusual locations, including several boxes at the top of hills and even one inside a theatre.

When he finds a new post box, Mr Willis photographs the base to record the manufacturer’s name and logs a grid reference on a map.

As well as taking him around the country, Mr Willis said his hobby opened his eyes to his local area too.

He is a member of the Letter Box Study Group - an organisation dedicated to cataloguing the UK’s post boxes.

Members of the group contribute to its database by submitting grid references and pictures of boxes around the British Isles.

[stokes11eg]

Now that really is going postal!

[TeeferTiger]

Wonder if he's seen this one... I used to empty it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10089490@N06/4588936591/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lounge Lizard]

Mr Willis, from Worcester, said: 'Only 160 post boxes in Britain bare the insignia of King Edward VIII.
'They were made in the 1930s but he abdicated after a fairly short reign so there was no need for any more.
'The one near me is quite special, it’s the only one we have in the whole of Worcestershire and the only other one I’ve seen on my travels was in Dunfermline in Scotland. I couldn't help but notice an Edward VIII one in Scarborough a few years ago.
.

"As well as taking him around the country, Mr Willis said his hobby opened his eyes to his local area too."
Call it 'boring' if you like but it's better than being sat at home watching crap on the telly or reading the Daily Mail.

[houseoflords]

Sounds a right SAD ACT! Royal Mail Manager you say? Well sounds like a right Company Lackey! Nothing else in his Life apart from Boring Royal Mail, bet his Wife's long gone! Get a Porno Mag more interesting.

[noggin1969]

[Lounge Lizard]

Sounds a right SAD ACT! Royal Mail Manager you say? Well sounds like a right Company Lackey! Nothing else in his Life apart from Boring Royal Mail, bet his Wife's long gone! Get a Porno Mag more interesting.

Long gone ? No, "Dianne comes with me most of the time on my travels"

[TeeferTiger]

We've got one of these too from Victoria's reign

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/370019706/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[REDLETTER]

He has even programmed his sat nav to beep when he passes a post box in his car.

Now that is sad!

[chunk]

Hes not robbing banks or selling drugs.
We have a fine tradition of eccentric characters in these isles.
(and hes not hurting anybody )

[BELIAL]

No

[Lounge Lizard]

We've got one of these too from Victoria's reign

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/370019706/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But there's thousands of Victorian postboxes all over the country, just like there's Victorian houses, Victorian railway bridges and Victorian many other things - but that's because in Victorian times things were made or built to last.

[TeeferTiger]

We've got one of these too from Victoria's reign

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/370019706/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But there's thousands of Victorian postboxes all over the country, just like there's Victorian houses, Victorian railway bridges and Victorian many other things - but that's because in Victorian times things were made or built to last.

Most of Llandudno is Victorian, including the residents!

[Lounge Lizard]

We've got one of these too from Victoria's reign

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/370019706/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But there's thousands of Victorian postboxes all over the country, just like there's Victorian houses, Victorian railway bridges and Victorian many other things - but that's because in Victorian times things were made or built to last.

Most of Llandudno is Victorian, including the residents!

Indeed, and even a pub called the Old Victoria, quite near the pier if I remember correctly.
Fifteen years now since I stayed in the town but I remember that pub as friendly and offering good food as well as decent beer.

[TeeferTiger]

We've got one of these too from Victoria's reign

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/370019706/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But there's thousands of Victorian postboxes all over the country, just like there's Victorian houses, Victorian railway bridges and Victorian many other things - but that's because in Victorian times things were made or built to last.

Most of Llandudno is Victorian, including the residents!

Indeed, and even a pub called the Old Victoria, quite near the pier if I remember correctly.
Fifteen years now since I stayed in the town but I remember that pub as friendly and offering good food as well as decent beer.

Certainly is! http://www.queenvic-pub.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;