Colourful woolly hat on post box spreads joy to workers

A colourful woolly hat with a heartfelt message has been left on a post box in Leith to thank local workers for their efforts during the pandemic.

Kay Gillespie was walking her dog on Leith Walk when the kind display caught her eye.

The hat was teamed with a friendly message dedicated to the local postmen and women attached to it.

Kay took a picture and shared it on a local Facebook page in the hope of sharing the kind gesture and to find the creator.

Kay told STV News: “Leith has real community spirit and we all have a lot of respect and appreciation for our posties.

“This kind gesture sums up exactly that! It’s so lovely that someone local took the time to crochet this rather fetching accessory for the post box – to say thanks to our posties and to make passers-by smile.”

Wendy Kelly, 48, eventually came forward as the crocheter behind the hat.

Wendy said: “I found crochet was a great way of keeping my mind off all the worries of the pandemic and a way of feeling useful in a time when it is easy to feel helpless.

“Like many fellow crafters, I enjoy crocheting things that have a practical purpose or that will cheer people up.

“I was looking for something to contribute to people’s good mental health and thought that a rainbow bobble hat post box topper would be just the thing to brighten up Leith walk.”

Wendy worked on her hat every evening for two weeks before placing it on the post box.

She said: “It gave me great pleasure to peek out my window and see passers by doing a double take, taking photos and most importantly smiling when they saw my wee creation

“There are so many people that have had to work really hard all the way through this pandemic and posties are included in that.

“My local posties are always super helpful and smiley.

“I just thought it would be a nice way to thank them.”

She added: “I was super chuffed to see photos of the hat start to turn up on social media.

“Knowing that I had cheered someone up in some small way made my day brighter too!

“It is just a hat – I am not working in a hospital saving lives or a firefighter rescuing folk from a burning building, but the power of crafters to bring a wee spark of joy in dark times is a wonderful thing and I am very proud to play a tiny part in that.

“In a time of social isolation, with no hugs allowed, it’s a way of letting folk know that you care about them all as a community and wishing them well.”