Gold phone box unveiled in honour of Olympic star Lauren Price

A phone box has been painted gold in honour of Olympic gold medalist Lauren Price in her hometown of Ystrad Mynach.

The phone box on Penallta Road, which was painted gold in the last 24 hours, was commissioned by  Gelligaer Community Council as part of celebrations planned for the record-breaking boxer.

The council has detailed how the phone box will stand as a monument to the sporting hero’s Olympic success, with plans for the inside of the phone box to be kitted out with display shelving and lighting for showcasing local art and craft.

In addition, photos and memorabilia of Lauren’s journey to the Olympics would also be displayed.

In a post on Facebook in reaction to the unveiling of the gold post box, Gelligaer Community Council said: “Our phone box or should I now say Lauren’s phone box in Ystrad Mynach is looking amazing!

“Gelligaer Community Council have received so many lovely and positive comments for pulling this off. It’s an absolute pleasure to honour Lauren this way.

“It’s still a work in progress with glazing lighting and more to be done inside but you won’t be disappointed. It’ll look stunning by the time we’ve finished with it! Thanks everyone for your support.”

Post box request

Unfortunately, a request by local MP, Wayne David, and MS, Hefin David, for a post box in the town to be painted gold has been turned down by Royal Mail.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “London 2012 was a unique occasion. The UK hosted the Games and as a one-off tribute, Royal Mail chose to mark the achievement of our athletes through gold post boxes as well as stamps.

Royal Mail did not paint post boxes gold during the Rio Olympics in 2016, and will not be creating gold post boxes for the Tokyo Olympics.”

There will however, be further recognition for Price, as well as Olympic Taekwondo silver medallist Lauren Williams, who is also from the area, with their inclusion on a new wall of fame, which is set to be unveiled at Ystrad Mynach’s Centre for Sporting Excellence.

Caerphilly County Borough Council leader Philippa Marsden said:  “As many of you will have seen over the weekend I announced on Twitter that we would work up plans to celebrate our Olympians Lauren Williams and Lauren Price.

“I know we are all are keen to create a lasting legacy of these achievements, so I be inviting our Olympians to unveil our Team Caerphilly Sports Wall of Fame at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach.

“Additionally, to mark the event residents will see lamp post artwork which will feature their images in each of their home towns. Also, we will be lighting up key buildings across the county borough on the day of the unveiling.

“Residents will also have the opportunity to visit the Centre for Sporting Excellence to sign a book of commemoration which will be gifted to the athletes in the coming weeks.”