She’s the golden girl... and now swimming sensation Heather Frederikson has a postbox permanently painted in her honour

Pic with Heather Frederikson on
Mon, 21st Oct 2013. Pic used with kind
permission of The Leigh Journal.

Royal Mail painters descended on the red postbox on Market Place, Leigh in 2012 to paint it gold and have now announced that the post box will remain gold as a permanent reminder of Heather’s achievement and the historic games.

Royal Mail has painted more than 100 of its iconic and much-loved red post boxes gold to celebrate every Team GB and Paralympics GB gold medal won during the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The post boxes will remain permanently gold to mark the achievements of the athletes and the historic Games.

Heather secured the gold medal in the Women’s 100m Backstroke, S8 competition and is also a face on a Royal Mail stamp issued in the glow of her London 2012 victory.

This is a unique and highly visible recognition of the success of Team GB, but in particular Heather’s superb victory at London 2012.

She is an inspiration and I know that the whole Leigh community is very proud of her achievements.

All Systems Go for the Inaugural Leigh Games

Games will showcase talents of our young people as excitementbuilds in fitting legacy to the 2012 London Olympics

Excitement is growing ahead of the inaugural Leigh Games to be held on 1st and 2nd July at Leigh Sports Village.

The action packed two day event promises to be a fitting local legacy to the 2012 London Olympics and I am calling on local primary and secondary schools to participate in the inaugural event.

Organisers have now released details of the 2 day sporting extravaganza which will see primary schools participate on the 1st July with the secondary schools participating the following day.

Inspired by London 2012, organisers have also promised an Olympic style medal presentation and table for the victorious athletes and their school.

The launch will take place against the exciting triple announcement that former NBA Basketball legend John Amaechi is throwing his considerable support behind the Leigh Games with his attendance confirmed for the Basketball competition.

In addition, London 2012 Team GB Wheelchair Rugby captain Steve Brown will be attending the primary school events and on 2nd July Olympic Sprinter Jason Gardner on hand for the secondary school games.

I am also delighted to announce that Leigh based supermarket giant Morrisons and Golborne based Alpla UK Ltd are supporting the packed 2 day event as sponsors. Together with Leigh Sports Village, Wigan & Leigh Culture Leisure Trust, Active Energy, Premier Support and Leslie McGreevy (schools sports co-ordinator) I am calling on the whole community to get behind the games and support Leigh’s young people.

The excitement is growing as the countdown begins to this very special sporting event. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the whole community to come together and celebrate the achievements of our young people.

The London 2012 Olympics served to demonstrate the tremendous appetite for sport that exists in the UK and in 2013 the Leigh Games held at the iconic Leigh Sports Village will provide a festival of sport that the whole community in Leigh can be proud to support.