Former St Ivo student and 100m Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock chooses home for gold post box

PARALYMPIC hero Jonnie Peacock has snubbed St Ives in favour of his current home in Doddington for his gold post box.

Jonnie, 19, who grew up in Shepreth before going to school in St Ives, had kept people guessing as to which of the locations would get the coveted golden post box.

His family were delighted he chose Doddington and said it was “amazing” to see residents come out to and pay tribute to the youngster’s success in the T44 100m, where he set a record time of 10.90secs.

His mother Linda Roberts said: “It’s amazing. What’s really lovely is that children right the way through to elderly members of the community have been proud to have this happen.”

She said she hoped her son would return home soon, adding: “I just want to give him a huge hug and cook him a roast dinner.”

She also wants to photograph the teenager, who nearly died from meningitis aged five, post a letter into the post box painted gold to mark his Paralympics victory.

A banner which read “Doddington’s Golden Boy - Congratulations Our Jonnie” was hung over the Post Office which, ironically, is run by Beth Crook, the partner of Peacock’s eldest sister as part of his father’s business.

Gold it is then for Doddington as post box is painted gold today to honour Jonnie Peacock’s Paralympic success

Beth joined the rest of her family to roar her teenage brother to victory in the Olympic Stadium.

“It was just pure tears and joy,” she said. “I was so proud.”