Fury over theft of Edwardian postbox in Reigate

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.surreymirror.co.uk/Fury-thef ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



PEOPLE in Reigate have been left saddened and angry by the theft of a postbox dating back more than 100 years.

The postbox, which carries the insignia of Edward VII who reigned between 1901 and 1910, was stolen on the night of July 31 and discovered missing early the next day.

Royal Mail said the post box, at Bonny's Road in the hamlet of Skimmington, on Reigate Heath, was attached to a pole and was found to be missing on August 1.

Sally Hopkins, senior external relations manager with Royal Mail, said: "We reported this incident to the police and are in the process of replacing the box, although it will be a new box, not a replica old one."

Greg Miles, a public relations officer with Surrey Police said this week: "Surrey Police received a report of a post box being stolen from Bonny's Road, Skimmington, near Reigate, between 6pm on July 31 and 10am on August 1.

"Anyone with any information should contact Surrey Police by reporting it online at https://my.surrey.police.uk/splonlinereportingweb" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or by calling 101 quoting the reference number 45150067375."

BBC newscaster Nicholas Owen, who is president of the Reigate Society, was saddened to learn of the theft.

He said: "What a rotten thing to happen. A little bit of Edwardiana that many people would hardly have noticed, but a small treasure now lost. I would urge anyone who thinks they see any suspicious activity near anything that might be worth a few pounds to thieves to alert the police straight away."

Claudia Payne, a committee member of the Reigate Society who lives on the heath, said: "This postbox was a memento of the past. It should have been respected."

Colin Burbidge, another of the society's members said: "It's incredible what people do these days."

One postman said he would not be surprised if the box was stolen to order.

Another post box, on the A25 opposite Shagbrook, Buckland, was taken down by Royal Mail to be repaired earlier this month and is now back in position. At one stage, the box was lying prostrate in the grass, leading to fears locally that there had been a thwarted attempt to steal the box.