Postbox topper maker to quit after character stolen

A woman who has created toppers for a postbox in Mansfield since 2020 is 'retiring' after her latest topper was vandalised.

Debbie Williamson, 60, has been decorating a postbox in Clipstone Road West, Forest Town, since the Covid-19 lockdowns to "brighten things up a little bit".

However, a character from her latest Wallace and Gromit-themed topper, Feathers McGraw, was stolen two weeks ago. Despite a plea on social media, it has not been returned.

As a result, Williamson said she won't be replacing the topper, and has gifted what was left of it to a local family.

Over the last six years, Debbie estimated she had made more than 40 toppers for the postbox, which has been without a topper since Debbie removed it in mid-September.

She used to create toppers for a postbox nearer her home, but stopped following issues with vandalism and theft.

Williamson, who set up Forest Town Yarn Bombers when the Tour of Britain came through Forest Town in 2022, said each topper, which can be either crocheted or knitted, takes "hours and hours" to make.

She estimated the Wallace and Gromit topper took more than 40 hours to make.

She also made 'random acts of kindness' for the postbox, such as 'worry worms', which were free for passers-by to take.

But that will now also stop due to the theft of her latest creation.

The latest topper was in place for a week before part of it was taken.

Williamson, who said she has had toppers stolen and vandalised before, added: "I said that as long as they were left alone now, I'd carry on. But this one sort of broke me a little bit.

"It is a lot of hard work, and it's something for everyone to enjoy. I always brought my children up knowing that if they did something wrong, there would be consequences, and this is the consequence of someone thinking they can just take it from everyone else."

Williamson said she was "just sad" to stop putting out the toppers.

"We're basically just kind people that want to do something good for our community, so it's disheartening that people think they can just take something that they want," she added.

She said that while she intends to stop decorating the postbox and arranging the 'random acts of kindness', the Forest Town Yarn Bombers will continue working to fundraise for charities.

She added that if Feathers is returned unharmed, she would reconsider her retirement.

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