A post box which the Royal Mail has never emptied has helped an Essex Wedding Venue raise over £13,000 for a UK cancer charity.

It all began back when Prested Hall’s Wedding Manager Rachel Hull got married in 2009. Rachel married husband David at the exclusive wedding venue in Feering, nr Colchester.

Rachel’s husband-to-be David was a carpenter by trade, and made a replica vintage Royal Mail postbox. The couple used it for guests to post their wedding cards in, on the day.

Following the wedding, Rachel gave the postbox to the venue. Rachel requested that future bridal couples were asked to make a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support charity in lieu of a hire charge.

Since then, hundreds of couples have used the postbox on their wedding day. Consequently over £14,000 has been raised for the charity.

Fantastic Achievement

Amy Parmenter, Macmillan Fundraising Manager for the Essex area visited the venue. “This is a fantastic achievement which stemmed from a really simple idea” said Amy.  “We’re very grateful to Rachel and to Prested Hall for this continuing support. As an example of a service in the area, it costs £10,000 per year to fund 2 sessions a week for a  Macmillan GP. We currently have four in Essex, so Prested have helped pay for one of these.”

Rachel, who following a career break to have children has since returned to Prested Hall and her former role as a Wedding Manager said “We chose Macmillan as the recipient charity in memory of my late grandfather Robert Clark who died of bowel cancer in May 2008”.

Rachel went on to say “Macmillan were a great support throughout my Grandad’s illness.  My mum also received support during her treatment for bowel cancer three years later. Fortunately my Mum made a good recovery and both David and I are really happy to see how well the postbox has been used and for it to have raised such a fantastic amount”.

The postbox is still in use at the Essex wedding venue.  Hall manager Karen Herbert said “This is reflective of the kind caring nature all our staff have at Prested and we’re extremely proud of Rachel and David for coming up with such a great idea”.

Pictured l-r Rachel Hull, Prested Events Manager; Amy Parmenter, Regional Fundraising Manager, Macmillan Cancer Research; Emily Rooney, Prested Events Manager.