Lye cemetery postbox allows people to send letters to Heaven

Mitchell Bolton, landlord at the Hare and Hounds in Wynall Lane, knows what it’s like to miss a close relative – having lost his father to pancreatic cancer in March 2018.

The father-of-two has openly talked about his grief on social media and has told how therapeutic he has found writing a letter to say the things that can no longer be said in person.

As a result, he decided to fund a postbox for people to “send letters to Heaven” which has been installed in Lye and Wollescote Cemetery.

The 'Letters to Heaven' plaque gifted to Lye and Wollescote Cemetery by publican Mitchell Bolton (Image: Mitchell Bolton)

The postbox and a plaque, which cost around £500, were installed just before Christmas so grieving relatives could pen a note to their late loved ones at a time of year that often hits bereaved families and individuals the hardest.

The 'Letters to Heaven' plaque in Lye and Wollescote Cemetery (Image: Mitchell Bolton)

Mitchell said: “It was a perfect time really with how many people visit the cemetery on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to drop flowers to a loved one.”

He said several of his family members were laid to rest in the cemetery and he added: “I just wanted to give something back to my local community.”

The box, which is being managed by the Friends of Lye and Wollescote Cemetery, will be emptied weekly.