Murray's mum sees second post box painted gold (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Murray's mum sees second Wimbledon post box painted Olympic gold

1:16pm Friday 10th August 2012 in News By Omar Oakes

A proud mother looked on yesterday as Wimbledon saw a second post box painted gold in tribute to Olympic success for Merton.

After Andy Murray won gold in the men’s singles tennis event at Wimbledon last Sunday, his mother Judy visited Somerset Road yesterday to watch a red postbox painted gold in her son’s honour.

Speaking to the Wimbledon Guardian, she said her 25-year-old son was boosted by the Olympic experience of being part of Team GB, as opposed to individual pressure of having to win a major championship by himself.

She said: “To have the Olympics in your home town is only going to happen once in a lifetime so it was wonderful for him to come out on top of this one.”

Describing the moment Andy defeated Roger Federer in straight sets in Sunday’s final, she said: “The tears come and there is genuine excitement for what he’s achieved.

“Only your family knows just how hard you’ve worked over so many years. What the public see is only the final performance when your kids go up and play.

“But they don’t see all the years of hard work that he’s put in to get there.

“For him it’s the ultimate reward for how hard he’s worked over the years.”

For every Team GV gold medal won at London 2012 by Olympians and Paralympians, Royal Mail have pledged to paint a red post box gold in their home town.

They have already painted a post box gold in outside in Worple Road, Wimbledon, in honour of Sophie Hosking’s gold medal in the lightweight women's double scull with Kat Copeland.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said they are now considering leaving the postboxes gold indefinitely after feedback from members of the public.

Diana Sterck, Chief Executive of Merton Chamber of Commerce praised Murray and Hosking’s achievement as becoming part of Wimbledon’s heritage.

She said: “The gold post boxes marking the success of Andy Murray and Sophie Hosking are history in the making and fit perfectly with the aspirations of the Wimbledon Way, that aims to celebrate and promote Wimbledon's rich heritage.”