Postman Pat and the Great Train Robbery may seem to be poles apart but they are both featured in a special ‘Moving The Mail’ event.
It takes place at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton this weekend (August 10 and 11).
Postman Pat, with Jess the cat, will be making appearances during both days, giving lots of opportunities for little ones to have their photograph taken with everyone’s favourite postman.
Adult visitors may be interested in a special exhibition from the British Postal Museum and Archive to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1963 Great Train Robbery which occurred on the railway lines of Buckinghamshire.
The exhibition will detail the robbery from the Post Office’s point of view, and show the investigation department’s work on it.
Moving The Mail will also display the history of moving post around the UK, from the old horse-drawn mail-coach days in the early 19th century up to modern times, with exhibitions, films and talks.
The Letter Box Study Group will be displaying original and replica post boxes in the museum, where children can design and colour a post office van, a pillar-box and a steam engine.
The centre’s travelling Post Office coaches will be open both days, featuring ‘Night Mail’ and other short films, photographs and text about how moving mail has progressed over the years.
The sorting coach will be set up as it was when fully operational, when mail was sorted on the move while travelling great distances through the UK overnight. And visitors will be able to have a go themselves.
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