VILLAGERS in Wootton Courtenay have got their postbox back – a year after it was removed and in the same place it was originally installed in 1935.

The saga of the wandering postbox began last January when villagers were flabbergasted to see it being prised out of a wall as an “emergency” by two workmen sent all the way from Cardiff.

It still had the morning mail in it, and no-one in the village, including the postman and sub-postmaster, knew anything about its removal.

It transpired that Royal Mail property services considered the matter urgent, as planning permission had been given for the wall of the house where it was installed to be knocked down.

The postbox was moved the 17 yards away to the wall in 1975, after the original post office where it was installed in 1935 became the village shop.

After its sudden removal last January, months of requests followed, to have it replaced.

“James Wilmoth, as chairman of the parish council, worked tirelessly to ask the Post Office to replace the postbox,” said Paddy Parnell, who has lived in the village for 43 years.

“Letters, emails and telephone calls were made to many agencies, including the Post Office, Royal Mail, the local council, the county council and our MP, in some cases repeatedly, all to no avail.”

Eventually, the Post Office agreed to replace it and said a suitable location would need to be found. The village was told the original position in the exterior wall of Wootton Courtenay Villagers’ Stores and Post Office was not deemed suitable, as it was against company policy to fit postboxes in walls.

“After a full survey had been completed and locations reviewed, taking into account all necessary Health and Safety requirements, it [was] decided there was no suitable location available in the village,” said Paddy.

The Post Office was asked to think again about the original position, as the shop was owned by the village and unlikely to be demolished or turned into a block of flats.

Finally, it was agreed the postbox could return to its old home. Planning permission from Exmoor National Park Authority was sought and agreed, and last October the parish council was informed it would be refitted.

“So it came as no surprise at all, just 12 weeks later, and again totally unannounced, that the very same jolly Welsh postbox fitting team found their way from Cardiff,” said Paddy.

“This time there were three fine fellows … and later that day the resplendent box was fitted in the wall.”

The men returned the next day to finish off, and the exact same postbox that was removed a year ago – rumoured to be anywhere from Cardiff to a salvage yard in Portsmouth – was back in the village.

“It would be impossible to calculate the cost … that this little episode has involved,” said Paddy, who said a local builder, when asked for a quote, mentioned £50.

“Oh, and the postbox needs a coat of paint. Any suggestions?”