No matter where you travel across Britain or however remote you maybe, there is a very good chance you will come across a Royal Mail Post Box. Many, like the one below, date back the the reign of Queen Victoria when the postal network was in its infancy. This one with its distinctive VR and Crown emblem is in the hamlet of Upperdale in the Derbyshire Peak District and built in to the wall of a roadside barn. No matter how remote these iconic Red boxes are they invariably get a daily collection (except Sundays). A great service particularly for the remoter communities….
But for how much longer? We now live in Country where Privatisation of what once were ‘National’ services is common place. More efficient, more competition are the justification….but from my stand point all ever I see is either more expensive services and in still not real competition in supply or any improvement in service. Why, well quite simply Government (what ever their colour) lack negotiating skills, Private Enterprise buys well, usually the best bits and leaving the dirty end of the stick for the Tax payer. Then the Accountants move in and it is all down hill for customers.
The Royal Mail is perhaps the next to fall in this way. But to be totally fair you have to admit that Email, Skype, Facebook and all the other forms of instant messaging must have had an effect on the Royal Mails business.
So for how much longer will we spot there symbols of bygone enterprise and a service that has been a lifeline for many communities. A service that for some of the most remote is still a vital link.
9th March
© David Oakes 2013
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 