During a Civic Reception at Leicester Town Hall on Tuesday 28 October 2014, Leicester College automotive learners and their lecturers were presented with certificates by The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor John Thomas celebrating their work to restore a yellow post box with was gifted by postal workers to the city more than four decades ago.

The yellow post box, which was part of Block B, Civic Centre on King Street, had suffered years of wear and tear when Councillor Malcolm Unsworth, from Leicester City Council, decided it should be saved because of its historical significance. He contacted Leicester College’s Engineering Department with the challenge of restoring the post box, whilst providing the College’s learners with valuable hands-on restoration work experience.

Arshad Macher, Cameron Allen, Darren Cox and Ujjval Patel, who were all enrolled on Level 2 Diploma in Vehicle Paint Refinish course, used the skills they have learnt on the course and adapted them to refinish the post box.

Councillor Malcolm Unsworth said “The box had been a gift by postal workers from Strasbourg, France to the people of Leicester, as part of a twinning association. When I first brought it in, it looked beyond repair, but looking at it today I am impressed beyond words. It looks like a beautiful piece of art, which is a credit to the learners and staff at Leicester College.”

Sir Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester, also praised Malcolm Unsworth for having the foresight to save the Post Box and approach Leicester College with the restoration project.

Cameron Allen, who worked on the project and attended yesterday’s reception said “We used our transferable skills from spraying cars to spray the post box. We researched the colours to ensure a correct match to the original colour.”

Engineering Programme Lead for Automotive Body and Paint, Tony Jacques, said: “Our learners worked hard on the project. A lot of their time and energy was spent on identifying and sourcing the original colour. I’m so thrilled with the City Council’s response to our hard work and that the post box will continue to be used by the Council.”