THE post boxes along Rhyl’s promenade have been given a facelift ahead of the town’s air show this bank holiday weekend.

Yarn bomber Rachel Williamson, who began brightening up post boxes with “toppers” at the start of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, is behind the six aviation-themed designs, with the help of mum Thelma and twin sister Ruth.

The retired police officer brought cheer to Rhyl during lockdown with her crocheting, which she placed on post boxes early in the morning and late at night.

She and Ruth are both hugely excited about this weekend’s Rhyl Air Show, in particular the displays from the Red Arrows, on August 27 and 28.

Rachel said: “They probably took a week each to do - the biplane on the top of Old Golf Road took me a little longer.

“My sister and I go to all of the air shows around the country, but Rhyl’s is the best. After the air show, who knows where they’ll go – everybody wants them!

“I put my first one out, a sparkly rainbow, at the beginning of lockdown.

“Ruth and I went to the chemist to get mum a prescription, and the queue was socially distanced outside and it looked miserable, so I decided I was going to crochet a sparkly rainbow to put on top of the post box just to make the queue smile.

“I didn’t expect the response we got. We’ve done easily at least 150 since; I’ve had the mayor in my back garden, I’ve been to the tea party at Buckingham Palace, I’ve had donations of wool – it’s been absolutely massive.

“When lockdown started, Ruth was furloughed, and my mum gave up working in a church, so we were all at home.

“I did the first one, then I got mum knitting again, and Ruth doesn’t knit or crochet, but she’s like a ‘topper engineer’!

“If I need, say, a pole gluing to wood to make something stand up, she’ll make that for me.

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“People have said during lockdown that it was their only motivation to get out of the house. We’ve had running groups running to them, scouts orienteering round them, schools doing homework on them – the response I’ve had has been enormous.”

Previously, Rachel also made “I’m A Celebrity…”-themed toppers when the ITV show was filmed at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, and toppers for St David’s Residential Home in Rhyl after it stayed COVID-free for a year.

In May, Rachel was a guest at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace after her name was put forward for an invite by Vale of Clwyd MP, James Davies.

She attended the event with Ruth, and while in London, also met up with Dr Davies and enjoyed a tour of the House of Commons.

Rachel and her family’s Facebook page, “Rhyl Toppers”, has more than 2,000 “likes” – you can see more of their designs there at: www.facebook.com/rhyltoppers.