Red hot delivery
Together with HM Armed Forces we have unveiled our newest and hottest postbox - in Bahrain.
It is believed to be one of the hottest postboxes in the world and will be in service all through the year, even as temperatures hit more than 50° Celsius in the summer.
We have gifted the postbox - in our iconic red - to HM Armed Forces in Bahrain to ensure that troops can post Christmas messages home to loved ones, as well as having a small reminder of home.
UK process operations director, Simon Barker, said: ‘We were delighted to play Father Christmas and gift an iconic red postbox to troops in Bahrain, especially as we approach our busiest time of the year. We wish all our colleagues in the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) and those serving overseas a very merry Christmas.’
The postbox travelled more than 4,300 miles to reach its destination and was transported by the Royal Navy to reach its final position.
Commander Steve Forge Royal Navy, head of logistics at the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) in Bahrain, said: ‘Nobody likes being separated from their loved ones at Christmas time, so it's hugely important for morale that our sailors, troops and airmen have parcels to open on the day.’
The BFPO delivers mail to servicemen and women across the globe with the help of Royal Mail. The BFPO posting dates are by 26 November for operational HM Forces and 14 December for static HM Forces.
Royal Mail handled more 140 million parcels last Christmas with the BFPO processing 155 tonnes of forces mail, which was sent to sailors, soldiers and airmen all over the world.
The BFPO Christmas Free Mail Service (CFFMS) allows friends and families of service personnel in some locations to send letters and small parcels (up to a maximum of 2kg) to them free of charge during this period. Always use the BFPO number.
Military personnel deployed need to send UK bound mail so that First Class mail arrives in the UK by 18 December and Second Class mail by 14December.
Santa Mail
Anyone with a BFPO address can also take part in our ‘Letter to Santa’ campaign. All letters must arrive in the UK by Friday 7 December to receive a reply. Letters should be sent to:
Santa/Father Christmas
Santa's Grotto
Reindeerland
XM4 5HQ
