Gold post box honours Isle of Man cycling champion

A post box in the Isle of Man estate where cycling champion Matthew Bostock grew up has been painted gold in honour of his remarkable achievements on the track.

The tribute in Ballagarey, Glen Vine, celebrates a memorable year for the 29-year-old, who won Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow this summer before being crowned scratch race world champion in China last month.

The idea was first raised in an Isle of Man Today opinion piece following Bostock's dramatic Commonwealth Games victory in August, which called for the island's sporting achievements to be properly commemorated.

That prompted conversations between an Isle of Man Today reporter and Marown Parish Commissioners, with the Isle of Man Post Office subsequently agreeing to paint the post box gold.

The commissioners are now working on an official unveiling, with discussions taking place with Bostock and his parents, Selena and Andy.

The celebration is expected to take place soon, with the parish keen to welcome the champion home and recognise his achievements.

Bostock, known affectionately as Bocky, enjoyed a stunning victory in the men's 40km points race at the Commonwealth Games, taking gold in a dramatic finish.

He became only the fourth athlete to win Commonwealth Games gold for the Isle of Man, joining Peter Buckley, Nigel Kelly and Sir Mark Cavendish.

His success was followed by another major milestone when he won the scratch race world title at the UCI Track World Championships in China.

He has now been shortlisted for the 2026 National Champion of the Year award at the British Cycling Awards, which take place in Manchester later this month.

The idea for the gold post box came after Isle of Man Today recalled how the Isle of Man Post Office had painted the post box outside Onchan Post Office gold following Peter Kennaugh's Olympic gold medal win at London 2012.

In the August opinion article, Isle of Man Today wrote that the island's sporting achievements deserved to be properly commemorated.

It said it would love to see something in Glen Vine, or elsewhere in Marown, recognising what Bostock had achieved.

The post box on Ballagarey Road on its junction with Greeba Avenue is now a reality, thanks to the efforts of Marown Parish Commissioners and the Isle of Man Post Office.

The tribute is a fitting way to celebrate one of the island's greatest sporting achievements, with the official unveiling set to give the parish an opportunity to show its pride in its world champion.